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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Pay Book Number: P/KX 81653
Rank: Stoker Petty Officer

Remarks: Stoker Petty Officer. P/KX 81653 Mentioned in Despatches – London Gazette 1 January 1942 (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Born 1908 . Age 33 (Married to Marjorie Florence Jeffrey of Rosyth, Fife) Son of Henry and Mary Attfield Arthur had one son called Denis who was 20 months old at the time of his father's death. His father in law was serving in one of the ships that searched for survivors of the Cossack

Pay Book Number: P/KX 111951
Rank: Stoker 1st Class

Remarks: Stoker 1st Class. P/KX 111951 (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 21 (single) Son of Charles and Rose Ellen Avory of Ramsey, Huntingdonshire. Younger brother Maurice died 13 June 2009.

Rank: Steward

Remarks: Steward. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 33088
Rank: Ordinary Telegraphist
Relation: Son of Ernest Guy and May Helen Baker

Remarks: Ordinary Telegraphist P/SSX 33088 (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 21 (single) Son of Ernest Guy and May Helen Baker.

Rank: Midshipman RNR

Remarks: Midshipman RNR. Appointed 1 August 1937. Reported onboard 1.9.39 to March 1940?

Rank: SB Petty Officer

Remarks: SB Petty Officer. January 1939 to March 1939?

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940? ‘B’ 4.7 gun crew.

Ballie-Grohman I P
Rank: Lt

Remarks: Lt. October 1939 to March 1940?

Barnes George Barney
Pay Book Number: P/JX 130330
Rank: Petty Officer

Remarks: Petty Officer. DSM. P/JX 130330. Survivor discharged to HMS Victory. Died 2000. Said to have a nice personality and never came the heavy. Part of ALTMARK boarding party. Became a teacher at Deanery School, Southampton

Documents:

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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