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: OA

Remarks: OA. January 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist

Remarks: Acting Petty Officer Telegraphist. October 1939 to March 1940?

Rank: Boy Seaman

Remarks: Boy Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940? 17 at the time of the Altmark incident. Joined RN aged 14 and served in HAWKINS. Came from Castle Barracks, Aberdeen

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Was an Ordinary Seaman onboard LO3 (His first ship) He was on the bridge at the time of the sinking of the BISMARK. After completing officer training in 1942 he was appointed 1st Lt of Motor launch (ML)147 when in rough weather he jumped overboard in to the North Sea to rescue a man overboard. He was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Testimonial on Vellum. Then appointed as 1st Lt ML 641 based in North Africa and made attacks on enemy shore stations, ships and submarines. They also landed agents. The ML received a direct hit amidships whilst in the Straits of Messina – the crew were rescued. In 1943 he took command of Motor Gunboat 660 at Bastia and was involved in clandestine operations with the Raiding Support Regiment in the Aegean. 1945. Off the coast of eastern Istria his flotilla attacked and sank three large German armed lighters – F lighters - resulting in him receiving the DSC. Died August 2016 aged 98

Pay Book Number: P/JX 193609
Rank: Leading Seaman

Remarks: Leading Seaman. P/JX 193609. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41)

Rank: EA

Remarks: EA. October 1939 to March 1940?

Robinson K S

Remarks: Only information is a photo.

Gallery:

Robinson Kenneth
Pay Book Number: P/SSX32494
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman
Relation: Daughter Janet

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman P/SSX32494. Joined LO3 3.2. 1940 to August 1941. Member of 7 Mess. Port Watch Quarterdeck Division. Action Station Loader X Gun. (At BISMARCK action , 2nd Battle of Narvik and Altmark Incident) In hospital with broken arm late August 1941

Joined the RN 2 August 1939 as an Ordinary Seaman at VICTORY. 3.2.40 COSSACK. 1.4. 40 made Able Seaman. 27.8.41 VICTORY. 25.2.42 EAGLET. 18.9.43 VICTORY 1.12.43 SOUTHERN PRINCE. 27.9.44 VICTORY. 4.11.44 AGGRESSIVE.
9.4.45 VICTORY. 16.4.45 MAYINA.
27.5.45 HAITAN. 31.1.46 VICTORY.
19.4.46 St. VINCENT. Left the RN 1.3. 1947. S.S expired and worked for 28 years for the Post Office and BT. Died at daughters home in Wales on 14 February 2012. Wife Ann (Deceased), Daughter Janet

Documents:

Gallery:

Rank: Telegraphist

Remarks: Telegraphist. Joined the RN 1933. Joined LO3 in Newcastle 1938- shown on ship’s books for January 1939 to March 1940. Left the RN in 1947 to become Radio Operator BORC. East African Civil Aviation, Visnews. TV News BBC Film Director Education Department Australia. Other ships included GANGES, HOOD,TUSCAN POLYANTHUS

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1940?

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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