12 February 1897

Moored at number two buoy in Aden Harbour. Wind calm with broken cloud. Barometer 30.07 inches rising to 30.15 at noon before falling to 30.03 at 1600 and finishing at midnight at 30.09 inches. Temperature at noon 83F. 0140. Manned and armed boats. Sent away all available Small Arms men. 0400. Made an attack on Steamer Point. 0500. Boats returned from attack. 0815. Steam on (?)(Unable to read handwriting) fires. 0600. Veered to three shackles. Received 103 lbs of fresh beef and 59 lbs of vegetables plus 93 lbs of bread. 0915 Exercised Ship’s Company onboard. Inspected arms. 0945. Prayers.100. Exercised at General Quarters. Scrubbed canvas gear.

Noon. Wind ENE force 1. 1400. Employed cleaning boats, small gear and as requisite. 1600. Special leave to port watch. 1650. HMS Marathon arrive in to harbour. 1700. Mustered at Quarters. Out stream anchor and hawsers. 1730 HMS Plessey arrived. Scrubbed hammocks and washed clothes. Coal expended 10 cwt. Number on sick list 1.

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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