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.

Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

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

Rank: Canteen Manager

Remarks: Canteen Manager. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Canteen Manager

Remarks: Canteen Manager. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rhodes Jim Dusty
Pay Book Number: SSX 24246
Rank: Boy 1st Class/Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman
Relation: At one time engaged to Barbara Bridgett for one year but eventually married a girl from Dover - Nancy Gillie

Remarks: Boy 1st Class/Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman. SSX 24246. Joined the RN 1937. Onboard LO3 1938 to 1941 (Altmark Incident and 2nd Battle of Narvik) Fx division. B gun 4.7 loader. Witness at the SS Borthwick inquiry. Member of the young seaman’s racing Whaler crew. Re entered the Navy on 22 October 1946 to complete 12 years. New service number JX 801661. Originally from Sheffield. At one time engaged to Barbara Bridgett for one year but eventually married a girl from Dover - Nancy Gillie. Left RN 1947 (RNFR until 1951) After the war, he served as a Constable in the Kent County Constabulary (UK) before leaving England to join the Canadian Armed Forces in 1954. Jim and his family moved to Canada and were stationed in Newfoundland, Valcartier, and Kingston. Jim joined Correctional Services Canada in 1965 and had a distinguished career as Librarian at Joyceville and Collins Bay Institutions. In 1971, Jim's library at Collins Bay Institution received the John Cotton Dana Library Public Relations Award for Outstanding Public Relations Among Institutional Libraries. Jim also received the Exemplary Service Award from Corrections Canada. Jim retired from Corrections Canada in 1984. See separate biography for further details. Died in Canada on 20 August 2008.

Documents:

Gallery:

Rhydwen Ranyl A P
Rank: Temporary Surgeon Lt. MRCS.IRCP.MB BS

Remarks: Temporary Surgeon Lt. MRCS.IRCP.MB BS. Joined 26 February 1940. Served on HMS Sirius during the Aegean campaign where he was awarded the D.S.C. He was Surgeon-Lieut.RNVR Prior to joining HMS. Sirius he served on Cossack at Narvik and also aboard Bhen Mi Cree (Manx ferry) Possible at Dunkirk. He died in 1974

Riall Edward George
Pay Book Number: P/JX 138459
Rank: Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist
Relation: (married to Helen Elizabeth of Chichester, Sussex at Chichester Cathedral by Special Licence.- son Pat – one of twins) Son of Ernest Henry and Helen Elizabeth Riall

Remarks: Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist. P/JX 138459. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 25 (married to Helen Elizabeth of Chichester, Sussex at Chichester Cathedral by Special Licence.- son Pat – one of twins) Son of Ernest Henry and Helen Elizabeth Riall

Gallery:

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 22987
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of Leonard and Ann Richmond of Salford, Lancs

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. P/SSX 22987 Joined January 1939 (Killed in the collision with SS Borthwick 7.11.39) Died 8 November 1939 Age 18. Son of Leonard and Ann Richmond of Salford, Lancs. Buried in Seafield Cemetery, Edinburgh, Scotland

Rank: Surgeon. Lt.

Remarks: Surgeon. Lt. October 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 27634
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: Son of Harry and Gladys Rimmer of Birkdale, Lancs

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/SSX 27634. Died 10 November 1940. Washed over the side with Miles but was fortunate enough to be washed back on board. Age 21 (single) Son of Harry and Gladys Rimmer of Birkdale, Lancs

Pay Book Number: P/KX 92509
Rank: Stoker 1st Class

Remarks: Stoker 1st Class. P/KX 92509. On ship’s books at January 1939. (Discharged to HMS Cormorant 30.09.41)

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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