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
When Allotted: 1945

Remarks: Left RN 1963. Lives in Australia (1012)

Pay Book Number: CSS/954746
Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1955

Remarks: Joined RN 1955 and left 1963. Living in Tasmania Australia. (2012)

Rank: Leading Seaman TD2
When Allotted: 1950

Remarks: 2 Mess and TAS Division

Rank: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 1953

Remarks: Quarterdeck Football Team 1952
1st XI Football team 1953 / 54

Pay Book Number: S/SSX819662
Rank: Able Seaman Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 9.10.51

Remarks: Training Flotilla
4th Escort Group
RP3 course

5th DF Home Fleet

Sheerness Reserve Fleet
RP2 course

Discharged to RFR. Rated Petty Officer in RFR. Worked in the insurance business

See Page 15 “The Joining Routine” in the COSSACK CHRONICAL 1/2009. Died at 2000 on 6 November 2018.

Rank: Boy
When Allotted: 1955
Rank: Stoker Mechanic
When Allotted: 1945
Rank: Leading writer
When Allotted: 1953

Remarks: Onboard during 1953. Actual dates not known

Rank: O.A.2
When Allotted: 1958
Pay Book Number: C/JX646456
Rank: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 1950

Remarks: TAS Party. No 2 Mess. Action Station –ACR

CPO TASI
Suffered a stroke early April 2016 and died in the early hours of Sunday 17 April 2016 aged 86.

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?