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: Petty Officer
When Allotted: 1954

Remarks: Killed in a motorcycle accident in the UK

Rank: Petty Officer Telegraphist
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: Able Seaman TD2
When Allotted: 1950

Remarks: TAS Division

Rank: Lt Cdr
When Allotted: 1951

Remarks: Commissioned Gunner. Died 2001

Rank: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 1954
Rank: Ordinary Seaman
When Allotted: Dec 1947

Remarks: Following discharge worked as a telecommunications engineer. Lived in Dunure Ayrshire.
Wife Jean
Died of heart attack
27 December 2003

Pay Book Number: P/JX 181992
Rank: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 22.12.46

Remarks: Battle of Sirte March 1942
P & RT1 2nd Class
Mobile naval air base support unit
C.S. Expired
Died January 2013

Pay Book Number: MX727739
Rank: Assistant Cook Rated Cook (S) 30.8.45
When Allotted: 13.8.45

Remarks: Born 17 March 1926 in Greenwich and was a baker by trade.

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: E.A. 1
When Allotted: 1958
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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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