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.

Rank: SB Chief Petty Officer

Remarks: SB Chief Petty Officer. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Warrant Ordnance Officer

Remarks: Warrant Ordnance Officer. Appointed to Cossack 28 August 1940

Pay Book Number: P/JX 188572
Rank: Boy 1st Class. Ordinary Seaman.
Relation: Son of Frederick and Beatrice Maud Wesson of Sparkhill, Birmingham

Remarks: Boy 1st Class. Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 188572.
(Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 17 (single) son of Frederick and Beatrice Maud Wesson of Sparkhill, Birmingham

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 31155
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/SSX 31155. (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Wheeler (Bill) William Garrard
Rank: Lt. DSC. RAN. Torpedo Officer.

Remarks: Lt. DSC. RAN. Torpedo Officer. Appointed to Cossack 22 December 1939. Onboard 18 January 1940. Altmark boarding party, 2nd Battle of Narvik, sinking of Bismarck. DSC (London Gazette 14 October 1941 for Bismarck Action) On the bridge when torpedo struck (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41)

Whinney
Rank: MidShipman
Whinney A Reginald Bob
Rank: Lt Cdr.

Remarks: Lt Cdr. Appointed to Cossack 22.5.40 Left May 1941? At the BISMARK incident. Member of Vian’s staff. Joined the RN as a Cadet in 1922. Retired as a Captain. His final two years being Naval Attaché in Yugoslavia. Ships include WANDERER, RODNEY, IRON DUKE, SUFFOLK, WOLSEY, OSPREY, ECHO, DUNCAN, DOLPHIN, EURYALUS. Born 8 February 1909. Died December 1992 aged 83.

Pay Book Number: P/JX 223408. (Late P/MX 68995)
Rank: Ordinary Signalman

Remarks: Ordinary Signalman. P/JX 223408. (Late P/MX 68995) (Wounded 23.10.41 and discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Pay Book Number: P/KX 97193
Rank: Stoker 1st Class
Relation: Son of David and Mary Ann Whitehall

Remarks: Stoker 1st Class. P/KX 97193. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 20 (single) Son of David and Mary Ann Whitehall

Rank: Stoker Petty Officer

Remarks: Stoker Petty Officer. October 1939 to March 1940?

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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