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

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Bullen, A E

Rank: Leading Signalman

Remarks: Leading Signalman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Burch, P E

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Burkitt, Field Edmund Francis

Rank: Paymaster Lt

Remarks: Paymaster Lt. October 1939 to March 1940? Royal Humane Society’s Bronze Medal and Certificate 16.2.40 for rescue of German Sailor. Died onboard HMS Pelican 1940. Lived at Treetops, Upper Basildon. Berkshire.

Burridge, R

Pay Book Number: K64747
Rank: Stoker Petty Officer

Remarks: Stoker Petty Officer. K64747. January 1939 to July 1941. Boarded Altmark in place of a petrified young sailor. Was armed with a heavy spanner instead of a bayonet. (As told to his grandson)

Burrows, W J

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Burt, W G H

Rank: Stoker

Remarks: Stoker. January 1939 to March 1940?

Burton, A

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Burton, L

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Burton, P J

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman January 1939 to March 1940?

Burton, William Henry

Rank: Boy Seaman/Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Nearest relation Maggie Bennett – Niece

Remarks: Boy Seaman/ Ordinary Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940. At Altmark incident. Served on submarines (P311) and Midget submarines. (Nearest relation Maggie Bennett – Niece) Died when P311 was sunk by an Italian mine in the approaches to Maddalena 2 January 1943.

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.

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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