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/JX 274425
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of Henry and Jane Wallace

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. P/JX 274425. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 32 (married to Charlotte of North Fenham, Newcastle-on-Tyne) Son of Henry and Jane Wallace

Pay Book Number: P/JX 153368
Rank: Able Seaman
Relation: Son of Hugh Leslie and Ester Wallace of Gosport Hampshire

Remarks: Able Seaman. P/JX 153368 (Died 3 November 1941 in hospital – Ponta Delgado) Age 19. Son of Hugh Leslie and Ester Wallace of Gosport Hampshire Buried at Ponta Delgada (British Protestant) Cemetery, The Azores

Gallery:

Rank: Ordinary Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Rank: Stoker Petty Officer

Remarks: Stoker Petty Officer. October 1939 to March 1940?

Pay Book Number: P/SSX 22985
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
Relation: Son of Herbert and Jessie Maud Ward of Nottingham

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman P/SSX 22985 (Victualling book shows onboard as a Boy Seaman at January 1939) Injured at 2nd Battle of Narvik with multiple shrapnel wounds and transferred to HMS Warspite where he died 14 April 1940. Buried at Skjelfjord in the hammock of Dusty Rhodes. Age 19 (single) Son of Herbert and Jessie Maud Ward of Nottingham

Warden Tom
Pay Book Number: P/MX 68345
Rank: Sick Berth Assistant
Relation: Wife Lily died 4 June 2014

Remarks: Sick Berth Attendant. P/MX 68345 Joined the RN 1940 Joined LO3 May 1941 (Picked up by SBA Benny Goodman of HMS Carnation with the words “Bloody hell - its Warden!”. They had met when joining up at Hasler Hospital. Returned to Cossack to retrieve medical supplies. Discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney). Left the RN 1946 to become a Nursing Officer (Mental nursing) Died 27 December 1998. Wife Lily died 4 June 2014

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. January 1939 to March 1939?

Pay Book Number: P/JX 165232
Rank: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman

Remarks: Ordinary Seaman/Able Seaman. P/JX 165232. Onboard at October 1939. (Survivor discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney)

Rank: Able Seaman

Remarks: Able Seaman. October 1939 to March 1940? ‘B’ 4.7 gun crew

Pay Book Number: P/JX 177365
Rank: Boy Seaman 1st Class. Bugler.
Relation: Son of Hilda Winifred Weaver of Partridge Green, Sussex

Remarks: Boy Seaman 1st Class. Bugler. P/JX 177365. (Missing presumed Killed 23.10.41) Age 17 (single) Son of Hilda Winifred Weaver of Partridge Green, Sussex

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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