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

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Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: -

Rank: M(E)1
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: -

Pay Book Number: ?J958341?
Rank: Telegraphist
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: Died aged 59 in 1997 from malignant melanoma. Was at Christmas Island Tests. In RN for 22 years

Rank: Leading Cook (S)
When Allotted: 1958
Rank: Temporary Instructor Lt

Remarks: Flotilla Instructor Officer.

Rank: Commander RN
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: Made Captain. 
Died 3 September 2000, buried in Wissett Churchyard, Suffolk
To join the ship we had to fly out from the UK in January to Mombasa in Kenya were the ship was and as we sailed north towards Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) I recall that his first thought for his crew was for them to get acclimatised so those not on watch he gave every afternoon off until we reached there, due to the heat.

Rank: Cook (O)
When Allotted: 1958
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: M (E) MEM1
When Allotted: 1958
Pay Book Number: C/KX727687
Rank: Stoker
When Allotted: 5.10.45

Remarks: Released Class A
Died 13 December 2015 aged 99

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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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