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/JX 188544
Rank: Boy Seaman 1st Class

Remarks: Boy Seaman 1st Class. P/JX 188544. 1941 (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)
Joined RN 1940
COSSACK 1941
FORMIDABLE 1941 –1942
APPOLLO 1942 – 1943
QUALITY 1943 – 1945
BIGBURY BAY 1945 – 1947
Discharge by purchase (£35) as PO/LTO 1947
Class B Reservist for 12 years
Died 3 April 2008 age 84

Rank: Boy Seaman

Remarks: Boy Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Rank: Sick Berth Petty Officer

Remarks: Sick Berth Petty Officer. January 1939 to March 1939?

Pay Book Number: P/JX 188525
Rank: Boy 1st Class. Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of James Thomas and Daisey May Tanner of Edgbaston, Birmingham

Remarks: Boy 1st Class. Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 188525. (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 18 (single) Son of James Thomas and Daisey May Tanner of Edgbaston, Birmingham

Pay Book Number: P/J 113583
Rank: Petty Officer

Remarks: Petty Officer. P/J 113583. Director Layer during Operations Substance and Style Mention in Despatches. (London Gazette 25 November 1941 page 6772)
(Wounded 23.10.41 and discharged to military hospital and HMS Cormorant)

Pay Book Number: P/MX 60329
Rank: Acting Ordnance Artificer 4th Class
Relation: Son of Arthur and Lucy of Darlington, Co Durham

Remarks: Acting Ordnance Artificer 4th Class. P/MX 60329.
(Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 22 (single) son of Arthur and Lucy of Darlington, Co Durham. Name appears on the Naval Memorial at Portsmouth.

Pay Book Number: P/JX 168205
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: Son of Ernest and Mary Elizabeth Taylor of Cwmcarn. Monmouthshire

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/JX 168205. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 22 (single) Son of Ernest and Mary Elizabeth Taylor of Cwmcarn. Monmouthshire

Pay Book Number: P/JX 155696
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of Major Frank Ernest Taylor. Royal Artillery and Violet Gladys of Falmouth, Cornwall. Sister Mrs Margaret Adey

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 155696. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 19 (single) Son of Major Frank Ernest Taylor. Royal Artillery and Violet Gladys of Falmouth, Cornwall. Sister Mrs Margaret Adey

Pay Book Number: P/JX 139122
Rank: Leading Seaman

Remarks: Leading Seaman. P/JX 139122

Pay Book Number: P/KX 130601
Rank: Stoker 2nd Class
Relation: Son of Samuel and Susan Taylor

Remarks: Stoker 2nd Class. P/KX 130601. (Born Glasgow) (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 31 (married to Jane of Glasgow) son of Samuel and Susan Taylor

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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