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: Forward PO Messman and A mounting
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: Joined the Barrack Guard In HMS Victory (Nelson)

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: Regulating Branch

Pay Book Number: J944326
Rank: Ordinary Seaman (Seaman Gunner )
When Allotted: 11.6.58

Remarks: Born 16 November 1939 in Floriano Malta. Wife Lynn
Joined RN 12 July 1955
Died November 2017.
His father ‘Sandy’ Arthur George Albert Saunders. Petty Officer. P/J 107482 was lost at the sinking of L03

Rank: PO Cook (S)
When Allotted: 1958
Pay Book Number: CSS/X818646
Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1948

Remarks: Died April 2018

Rank: Telegraphist
When Allotted: 1950

Remarks: Part of the Steaming Party at the SS Ethel Moller incident.

Rank: Temp. Sub. Lt (Sp.Br.) RNVR
When Allotted: 14.9 1945
Rank: Captain RN
When Allotted: 1946

Remarks: Commanding Officer Made Vice Admiral

Pay Book Number: C/MX848799
Rank: Petty Officer Writer
When Allotted: 1954

Remarks: On retirement did voluntary work for SSAFA. Member of Liss and District RNA

Died 7 April 2013 - age 82 - in hospital with cancer of the liver having been diagnosed.

Rank: Chief.ERA
When Allotted: 1957
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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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