06 November 1897

Wind NE force 3 to 4 with broken cloud. Barometer 29.95 inches rising to 29.99 at 0800 before falling to 29.95 at 1600 and finishing at 29.96 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 81F. 0200. Received 122 lbs of beef and 61 lbs of vegetables plus 466 lbs of bread.  0600. Preparing for sea. 0830. Weighed. Wind NNE force 1 to 2. Proceeded out of harbour. 0855. Working up to 75 HP. 0900. Proceeded at 95 revolutions – 10 knots. Connected hand wheel. 0905. Course S ½ E. Patent Log put over. Cleaning ship.11.54. Barberyn Light abeam.  Noon. Position 6.26N. 79.52E at 10.9 knots. Wind NNW force 3 to 5 – squally.  1230 Altered course to S16E. 1330. Altered course to S35E. 1530. Altered course to SE. Set staysail and for and main trysails. 1600. Wind NNW force 3. 1615. Galle Point Light abeam. Altered course to S70E. Trimmed sails.  1700. Quarters. In fore and aft sails. 1920. Don— (?) Light abeam. Altered course to N75E. 2200. Exercised close watertight doors. Exercised Seaboat’s crews. Midnight. Wind NE force 3. Coal expended 21 tons 10 cwt. Number on sick list 8

Barberyn Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on Barberyn Island. Barberyn Island a 3.25 ha island situated 0.8 km offshore from the town of Beruwala on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka, 56 km south of Colombo.The lighthouse is a 34 m high round white conical granite tower.  Height: 34 m

Range: 50,004 m  First lit: November 1889  NGA number: 27288  Year first constructed: 1888  Admiralty number: F0826 Wikipedia

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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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