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: Petty Officer Elect
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: CPO Coxswain
When Allotted: 1951

Remarks: Served 1936 to 1960
Awarded the BEM.
Member of Redcar and District RNA
Died 20 November 2009 aged 88

Rank: Petty Officer
When Allotted: 1958
Rank: Surgeon Lt
When Allotted: 1945

Remarks: Lives in Sidney. NSW
Member of ship’s Whaler passage 29/30 May 1947. Mersing (Johore) to Kuantan (Pahang) with Cdr (E) Aylen, PO Pearce and 4 ratings. See Newsletter 3/2006 for details

Rank: Sick Bay Attendant
When Allotted: 1950

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

Rank: Able Seaman
When Allotted: 1958

Remarks: Mess 6

Rank: Signalman
When Allotted: 1957
Rank: Ships Dog

Remarks: Acquired in Hong Kong during annual docking

Rank: Leading Seaman
When Allotted: 1958

Remarks: 1st XI Football team

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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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