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: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939? ASDIC

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 31494
Rank: Signalman

Remarks: Signalman. P/SSX 31494. Suffered a great deal from Mal de Mer in the early days . (See Recollections by Reg Doring) (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41)

Rank: Acting Petty Officer

Remarks: Acting Petty Officer.

Vian Philip Louis
Rank: Captain DSO
Relation: Daughters Polly Thellusson (and Susan Keate – Deceased)

Remarks: Captain DSO** (London Gazette 12 April 1940/3December 1940/14 October 1941 for Bismarck Action ) Succeeded Sherbrooke [twice]) 18 January 1940 – 18 March 1940 and 5 May 1940 – 9 July 1940. Born 1894. Died 1968. Buried in the Crypt of St Pauls Cathedral. London. The memorial plaque overlooks the graves of Jellicoe and Beatty. Served as an Admiral of the Fleet. Daughters Polly Thellusson (and Susan Keate – Deceased)

15 February 1916 Lt
15 February 1924 Lt Cdr
30 June 1929 Cdr
31 December 1934 Captain
8 July 1941 Rear Admiral
8 May 1945 Vice Admiral
26 September 1948 Admiral
1 June 1952 Admiral of the Fleet (Retired)

Decorations
12 April 1940 DSO
19 July 1940 Mentioned in Despatches
3 December 1940 Bar to DSO
14 October 1941 2nd Bar to DSO
31 March 1942 KBE
8 June 1944 CB
25 July 1944 KCB
1 January 1952 GCB

Documents:

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 30120
Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/SSX 30120. (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking transit in HMS Rodney)

Pay Book Number: P/MX 63187
Rank: Cook(s)
Relation: Son of Walter Arthur and Florence Walker of Coventry

Remarks: Cook(s). P/MX 63187. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 21 (single) Son of Walter Arthur and Florence Walker of Coventry

Pay Book Number: P/JX 203254
Rank: Acting Leading Seaman

Remarks: Acting Leading Seaman. Temporary. P/JX 203254. (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Gallery:

Pay Book Number: P/JX 203254
Rank: Acting Leading Seaman. Temporary.

Remarks: Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney.

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Rank: Stoker Petty Officer

Remarks: Stoker Petty Officer. October 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.

Anchor crest

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