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/ESD/X 1441
Rank: Signalman RNVR

Remarks: (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41)Age 23 (married
to Margaret of Stockbridge, Edinburgh) Son of Alexander and Annie Colthart

Pay Book Number: P/J 100503
Rank: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: Onboard January 1939

Remarks: Seriously injured in collision with SS Borthwick. 7.11.39

Pay Book Number: P/J 100503
Rank: Leading Seaman.

Remarks: Onboard January 1939 (Seriously injured in collision with SS Borthwick. 7.11.39)

Rank: AB Diver
Pay Book Number: P/J 98209.
Rank: Able Seaman / Torpedo Operator
When Allotted: June 1938

Remarks: At ALTMARK incident
Died of Malignant Malaria 1942 onboard HMS Nelson.

Pay Book Number: P/KX 79078
Rank: Acting Leading Stoker, Leading Stoker, Stoker Petty Officer

Remarks: Born Kilbirnie –Scotland) (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 31 (single) Son of John and Elizabeth of Kilbirnie, Ayrshire.

Rank: Boy Seaman
When Allotted: October 1939
Rank: Stoker
When Allotted: January 1939
Pay Book Number: P/JX 274408.
Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 34 (single) Son of John and Agnes Cook of Neville’s Cross, Co Durham.

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: January 1939

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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