During the 2nd WW the ship was adopted by Beckenham, Kent. As the sister of Lt Cmdr P Vian (Later Admiral) – Marian Vian had a school in Beckenham named after her. Reg Morrison passed the 11 plus whilst attending in 1942. A plaque marking the adoption was put up in the town hall. This building was demolished in 1991 to make way for a supermarket. The area is now under the London Borough of Bromley.

HMS Cossack F03

Ships Company

Start typing to discover family names.

Pay Book Number: P/KX 94137
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Relation: 5th child of Charles and Emily. Married Joan Whetting Steel at Southampton.

Remarks: Stoker 1st Class. P/KX 94137. DSM. Member of the ALTMARK boarding party supplied from Aurora and was the last to leave. Was with WO Smith when he was shot. Born 30 October 1919. 5th child of Charles and Emily. Married Joan Whetting Steel at Southampton. Died 14 July 1996 at Dapto, New South Wales. Australia.

Rank: Petty Officer Rangefinder

Remarks: Petty Officer Rangefinder June 1938 to November 1940 (Killed on SS Mamistee (Decoy ship) June 1941

Rank: Signalman

Remarks: Signalman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

Proctor Arthur Leslie
Pay Book Number: P/KX 114548
Rank: Ordinary Coder
Relation: Son of Frederick and Emily A. Proctor of Burnley. Lancs. Engaged to Sybil (Now Mrs Lord)

Remarks: Ordinary Coder. P/JX 231173. (Late P/KX 114548). (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 21 (single) Son of Frederick and Emily A. Proctor of Burnley. Lancs. Engaged to Sybil (Now Mrs Lord)

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 26243
Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. P/SSX 26243. October 1939 to March 1940?

Remarks: Battle of Narvik 10.4.40

Pay Book Number: P/JX 165470
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman. DSM. P/JX 165470.
Onboard at October 1939. Wounded at 2nd Battle of Narvik. (Survivor of sinking - discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney) Lived in Market Harborough

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/JX 160629
Rank: Boy Seaman

Remarks: Boy Seaman. P/JX 160629. Onboard in 1938. Duty Starboard Lookout on after bridge at the Altmark Incident (Wounded 23.10.41 & discharged to military hospital and HMS Cormorant). Discharged from RN 1944 as unfit for service.

Hidden Gems

The HMS Cossack 1938-1941 was accepted on 10 June 1938 and dented, whilst coming alongside the jetty in Portsmouth on 12 June 1938.

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1806-1816

This is the account of the first vessel named HMS Cossack, a title that would be passed on to five later ships and commemorated by the Royal Navy in the Cossack Building at HMS Raleigh.

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1854-1875

The second Cossack was originally ordered by Russia for the Black Sea Fleet in December 1852 at a cost of 290,000 silver roubles. However, when relations between Britain and Russia deteriorated, Russia sold the vessels to the Hamburg trading firm Henry Mersk & Co.

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1886-1905

This account covers the third vessel named HMS Cossack. Launched on 3 June 1886 and in service until 1905, she spent the majority of her career in the Far East, calling at India, Aden, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and other ports.

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1907-1919

The fourth HMS Cossack received the first Battle Honour for participating in operations along the Belgian coast from 17 October to 8 November 1914. This section contains copies of the original construction contract and detailed plans showing her launch, deck arrangements, and machinery.

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1938-1941

Credited with battle honours including Baltic 1855, Witu 1890, Dover Patrol 1914–1919, Narvik 1940, Norway 1940, Atlantic 1940–1941, the Bismarck Action 1941, and the Malta Convoys 1941, the HMS Cossack in service from 1938 to 1941 was a formidable presence.

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1944-1960

During Warship Week in February 1942, the town of Esher raised £1,192,211, contributing to the construction of the warship HMS Cossack. The funds were collected by the public depositing money into a rubber-type float in a pool. Remarkably, the surplus was enough to fund a submarine as well. The story continues.

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