30 June 1897

Bombay to Trincomalee. Course S54E at 10.4 knots. Wind SW by S force 2 to 4 with broken cloud and mist. Barometer 30.02 inches rising to 30.04 at noon and finishing at 29.99 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon. 84F. 0200. Exercised Close watertight doors. Exercised sea boats crews. 0400. Put clock on 16 minutes. Sounded in 100 fathoms by wire. 0430. sounded in 100 fathoms by wire. 0500. Sounded in 100 fathoms by wire. 0510. Sighted Colombo Light N58E. 0535. Altered course to S26E at 10.5 knots. 0700. Observed land off port beam. 0737. Darburyn Light House (Dondra?) abeam

Dondra Head Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Dondra Head, Dondra, the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is Sri Lanka’s tallest lighthouse, and also one of the tallest in South East Asia. Dondra Head lighthouse is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

  1. Altered course to S18E. 0900. Divisions and prayers. 0955. Altered course to S56E. 1030. Altered course to S73E. Employed as requisite. Noon position 55.3 N 80.29E at 10.4 knots. Wind SW force 3. 1230 Altered course to N71E. 1400. Employed as requisite. 1700. Altered course to NE. 1720 Gt. Dasses (?) abeam. Unable to read handwriting. Quarters. unbent fore and aft sails. 1905. South Dasses (?) abeam. Unable to read handwriting. 2045. Altered course N. 2200. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire, Exercised sea boats crews. Exercised close watertight doors. 2245. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. 1130. Sounded in 60 fathoms by wire. Coal expended 23 tons 16 cwt. Number on sick list 5.
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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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