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: Leading TAS
When Allotted: 1945

Remarks: 6 Mess

When Allotted: 1947

Remarks: Left Southampton 2 April 1947 on troop ship STRATHNAVER arriving in Hong Kong three weeks later.

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1957

Remarks: Navigator’s yeoman

Rank: Stoker Mechanic AL.N1/N 2229147 of 22.10.47
When Allotted: 13.8.48

Remarks: Died on 18th January 2009.
On leaving RN worked on a building site then went to Fords at Dagenham. Then joined the Merchant Navy. Then become a stoker at Rochford Hospital where he met his wife at the Badminto Club. He then went on to do the following jobs – Pay Clerk, warden in home for blind people, car park attendant, doorman at civic centre and finally store keeper at local college.

Had a mild heart attack at 38

Rank: Stores CPO

Remarks: Received commendation

Rank: Sub Lt
When Allotted: 1958

Remarks: Hockey Team

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1951

Remarks: (Surname Walter up to 1953)

Rank: Stoker Mechanic
When Allotted: 1954
Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1953

Remarks: 1st XI Football team

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1952

Remarks: Quarterdeck Football Team 1952

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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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