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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Remarks: Onboard 8.3.46?

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: Petty Officer DSM TAS1 TAS Division
When Allotted: 1949

Remarks: Died 21 March 2005 aged 92.
Joined the RN in 1927 and served until 1953.
Whilst serving onboard WANDERER as a leading Seaman HSD Wanderer found and sunk U-523 in August 1943 and U-305 on 17 January 144 – both in the North Atlantic. Was awarded the DSM by King George VI at Buckingham Palace.
Frank was Flotilla TASI onboard COSSACK from 1949 to 1951. Due to leave the Navy in 1950 but was retained for an extra 18 months for the Korean war. On leaving the ship Captain V.C. Begg – Captain D- offered Frank the manager’s job at a mineral bottling plant in Hong Kong; Frank declined.

Pay Book Number: 926683
Rank: Stoker
When Allotted: 1955

Remarks: Joined RN 1953 and left 1964.
Living in Lower Broadheath (2012)

Rank: Petty Officer TAS1
When Allotted: 1950

Remarks: DSM

Rank: Lt ( Gunnery Officer)
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: Made Commodore.
Died 16 October 2016

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1958

Remarks: 6 Mess

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1958

Remarks: Ship’s Butcher. Buried at sea after drowning during the trip from shore to ship at Kadat. N. Borneo. Buried at sea on 14 June 1959 with full naval Honours.

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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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