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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Rank: Ordinary Seaman
When Allotted: January 1939
Rank: Chaplin
When Allotted: 1 November 1940

Remarks: Chaplin (RNVR) DSC.
Joined RNVR 1938. Appointed to Cossack 1 November 1940 (Survivor discharged to HMS Sikh). Served in RN 1939 to 1947 and 1951 to 1960. Ships include ZULU, EMERALD,CALLIOPE.

Born 19.6.1909. Died 30 May 1997.
St Catherine's College Cambridge BA1931; MA1935. Wells Theological College 1933. Ordained Deacon 1934; Ordained Priest 1935. Curate of All Hallows by the Tower (London Diocese) 1934-39. Chaplain Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1937-58. Chaplain Royal Naval Reserve 1958-97. Vicar of Tynemouth (Newcastle Diocese) 1948-63.

Rector of Ludlow & Rural Dean of Ludlow (Hereford Diocese)1963-71. Priest-in-Charge of How Caple with Sollers Hope 1971-76. Retired 1976. Married to Betty – one son and two daughters.

Rank: Signalman.
When Allotted: January 1939
Rank: Writer.
When Allotted: 19 July 1940

Remarks: Member of ‘B’ gun (Left ship at Greenock. Retired from RN. March 1953 as CPO Writer and became a Personnel Officer for ICI Plastics Division in Welwyn Garden City. Died 5.9.97

Remarks: I have found a letter dated 18 December 1940, from a John R Christophers, address HMS Cossack, c/o GPO London, addressed to my paternal grandparents.

I vaguely remember my father talking about someone of this name, and in the letter he says" I was very pleased when Ralph (my father) passed the preliminary (RN) boards ............. I am hoping that I may join him in the near future. I know nothing definite yet". At this time, my father was about to join in a flower class corvette on Atlantic convoy duty. Regards
Loral Bennett

Pay Book Number: P/JX 147937.
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: (Survivor discharged to military hospital and HMS Cormorant)
(Not listed as wounded in Official Admiralty Communique)From Dundee. Andrew Harris Clark was serving in HMS Medina when he accidentally, fatally shot himself with a Sten gun. He is on the CWGC database

Rank: Canteen Assistant/ N.A.A.F.I. Manager

Remarks: Onboard at October 1939. Died 13 April 1940 (Battle of Narvik) Age 19 (single) Son of James and Emily Clark of Great Broughton, Cumberland

Rank: Able Seaman.
When Allotted: October 1939
Pay Book Number: P/MX 46911
Rank: Supply Petty Officer (Temporary)

Remarks: Missing presumed killed 23.10.41)
Age 32 (married to Kathleen of Londonderry, Yorkshire

Pay Book Number: P/KX 112516
Rank: Stoker 1st Class.

Remarks: (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

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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