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: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. 1940-1941 Also served in MANCHESTER during Operation Pedestal. The ship was sunk and after 9 hours in the water he scrambled ashore at Cap Bon in North Africa and was interned. After three months was rescued by an American armoured column. Died 6 May 2007 in the Basingstoke area.

Pay Book Number: P/MX 67998
Rank: Probationary Supply Assistant. Leading Supply Assistant
Relation: Son of John and Rosina Hughes of Brighton, Sussex

Remarks: Probationary Supply Assistant. Leading Supply Assistant P/MX 67998. (Missing presumed killed 23.10.41) Age 21 (single) Son of John and Rosina Hughes of Brighton, Sussex. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 57, Column 2

Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

Hunt Jack
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940? At Altmark incident (aged 19). Press cutting shows he fell in the water but re boarded ALTMARK. Fought with a bare footed German who bumped his head on a lifeboat and passed out. Attended Trent Bridge Boy’s School

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Pay Book Number: P/SXX 21603
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: Son of Albert and Francis Hunter

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/SXX 21603. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 23 (married to Violet May of Brighton, Sussex) Son of Albert and Francis Hunter

Pay Book Number: P/J 98386
Rank: Petty Officer. Chief Petty Officer DSM
Relation: (married to Eileen May of Copner, Hampshire) Son of Leslie Dennis and Ada Maud Hutchins

Remarks: Petty Officer. Chief Petty Officer DSM (London Gazette 1 January 1942) P/J 98386. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 36 (married to Eileen May of Copner, Hampshire) Son of Leslie Dennis and Ada Maud Hutchins. Died Wednesday the 14th October 2015 aged 85.

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 22884
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/SSX 22884. Believed to have joined 1938 (Shown on ships books at January 1939. (No 5 Mess) but was certainly onboard in March 1939 when he wrote a letter to his sister from Gibraltar giving his address as No 5 mess HMS Cossack and left after 2nd Battle of Narvik. Killed in action 11th November 1942 in HMLC ME2 on the North Africa landings whilst a Petty Officer (Buried at La Reunion, Cem Bougie, Algeria)

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Able Seaman/Acting Leading Seaman.
When Allotted: January 1939
Rank: Able Seaman/Acting Leading Seaman
Relation: Married Alice in 1940

Remarks: Able Seaman/Acting Leading Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940? Joined the RN at 16 at HMS Vincent Gosport. Flash blinded at 2nd Battle of Narvik. Served for 32 years and became a Master at Arms. Artic Star. Grew up in Widley Road Stamshaw with five older brothers. Married Alice in 1940. On leaving the Navy he oversaw the building and security of Arndale Centre in Nottingham and managed it for 10 years. He then moved to Dorset where he managed Poole’s Arndale Centre until retirement in 1983.102 years old 22 April 2020. Living at Wellington Dale Care Home Denmead. Hampshire.

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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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