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: Leading Stoker Mechanic
When Allotted: 1948
Rank: Cook
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: 3 Mess

Rank: Stoker
When Allotted: 1949
When Allotted: 1956
Rank: Sub Lt
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: M (E)
When Allotted: 1958
Pay Book Number: PJ/976903

Remarks: Joined RN 1957 and left as Radio Operator 2 in 1961

Rank: Petty Officer Telegraphist (Wireless Instructor)
When Allotted: 9.4.57

Remarks: My early background in the RN was as a submarine Leading Telegraphist and Petty Officer Telegraphist.  I undertook the Wireless Instructor Course in 1954/55.  Joined COMUS in Mombasa on 1 January 1957 as Petty Officer Telegraphist (Wireless Instructor) , transferred to COSSACK in Singapore probably in early June (with everyone else ex-COMUS) and left COSSACK in September to return to the UK for courses.  I was discharged from COMUS (TAMAR) Ship’s Books in September 1957 to MERCURY.
 
Commissioned on 16 June 1958 on completion of [SD][C] Courses.  I held two Submarine Squadron appointments as a Communications Officer

Retired prematurely from the RN to join the Royal Australian Air Force, which I entered as a Flight Lieutenant.  I became a Wing Commander in that Service and transferred to the Royal Australian Navy as Commander in March 1978. 

My last job in the RAN was in Canberra as Controller of the RAN’s strategic communications, Retired List in December 1984 and joined the Australian Public Service first as Security Controller of The National Library of Australia then into the Department of Defence as Deputy Director Communications Security.  I have three children (now all middle-aged adults), six grand-children and five great-grandchildren.  At 87 years of age I am still reasonably fit and active, much-travelled with my wife of now 67 years (dated 2017)

Pay Book Number: C/SSX 858032
When Allotted: 1947
Rank: Leading Coder (Ed)
When Allotted: 1957
https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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.

https://hms-cossack.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/08/icon-ship-wheel.png

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

Receive our newsletters?