During Warship Week in February 1942, Esher raised £1,192,211, which helped to build a warship, ‘HMS Cossack’. This was done by the public throwing money in to a rubber type float in a pool. (There was sufficient money left over to buy a submarine as well).

The story continues.

HMS COSSACK (ii) (R57)

Ships Company

Start typing to discover family names.

Rank: Captain DSO OBE RN
When Allotted: August 1945

Remarks: Commanding Officer
Decorations.
20.12.40 Mentioned in Despatches. 1.7.41 OBE.
1.1.42 Mentioned in despatches. 17.4.45 Mentioned in despatches. 19.6.45 DSC
Occasionally whilst at sea would relax on the bridge wearing a trilby hat, blue silk shirt and shorts and carpet slippers. Died aged 96

Pay Book Number: JX712640
Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 10.10.1946

Remarks: Born 22 June 1928 in Margate, Kent. Died 20 June 2017- just missing his 89th birthday.
Joined RN 6.9.1944 for 12 years.
Passed part 1 of Petty Officer exam 1.10.1948.
Discharge with gratuity as below physical standard 6 May 1949.

Received salvage award of £2 19s 1d in regard to assistance to the SS Tai Tong at the end of 1946

Pay Book Number: C/J945288
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
When Allotted: 18.6.55

Remarks: Topman. Born 29.4.38 in Gravesend, Kent. Volunteered for the RN 12.10.54. Hurt certificate 27.3.60.
Wife. Joan

Rank: 2nd Lt.
When Allotted: 1949

Remarks: Born in Weymouth

(A/S and GCO)then1st Lt
English Channel
Long Course A/S
TAS course
TAS1 Malta
Sea Trials staff

Staff Officer
OiC Mine and Mining Countermeasures
Staff Officer Ministry of Transport (Troop ships) and RFAs
Awarded MBE 1968
Died 25 November 2011.

Rank: Engineer

Remarks: 8th Squadron Engineering officer. Born 11 April 1919. Joined the Training ship EREBUS in 1937. Loaned to the Royal New Zealand Navy 1946 to 1949. Appointed ADC to the Queen in 1971. Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London 1977. Died 1993 aged 74.

Pay Book Number: JX660491
Rank: Able Seaman RC3
When Allotted: 3.4.1947

Remarks: Born 7 December 1929 in Richmond Surrey was an Office Boy before joining RN 15.11.45
Korean Service Medal

Pay Book Number: P/MX902480
Rank: A/OA4/ EM1
When Allotted: 1958

Remarks: Joined RN 1949 Left the ship at Singapore to have something done to his teeth.   It was found that he had leukaemia and, instead of returning to the ship he was flown home to UK.

Pay Book Number: M946833Y
Rank: A/LEM & LEM
When Allotted: 9.6.58

Remarks: Born 24 July 1938 in St Helier. Jersey. Was a cinema projectionist on entry.

Married Jill and lived at 79 Privett Road Purbrook Hants. PO7 5JW

Died 10 June 2018

Rank: Chief Electrical Artificer (CEA)
When Allotted: 9.4.57

Remarks: Awarded DSM for courageous action London Gazette 37119 (14.6.1945) whilst on HMS Indefatigable off Okinawa

Commissioning and sea trials of Bulwark with Harland and Wolff NI

Retired from RN 1959 and worked at Vosper Thorneycroft Portsmouth
Died 1972 leaving 4 children.

Pay Book Number: J937398
Rank: REM 2, Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman, Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 21.6.55

Remarks: Born 31.12.36. Died 25.2.11

Was a factory hand before joining RN

Medical discharge 29.6.1966
PUNS
1967 65% war pension
1985 85% war pension

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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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