09 May 1900

Malta to Port Said. Course S76E at 11 knots. Wind ENE force 1 to 2 with broken cloud and smooth sea. Barometer 30.10 inches rising to 30.13 at noon and then falling to 30.10 at 1600 before rising to 30.15 inches at 2000 where it finished at midnight. Temperature at noon 73F. Sea temperature 66F.

0200. Put clock forward 8 minutes.
0500. Sighted land on starboard bow.
0600. Brulos Light House on bow. (31.5983N 31.08209E. Elevation 4 metres – 13 feet)

0643. Brulos Light House abeam.
0650. Altered course to S77E. Aired bedding.
0800. Wind east force 1 with broken cloud.
1025. Dannietta (?) Light 6.2 miles. Altered course to S47E. Exercised – Man and arm ship. Mustered bedding. Noon. Position 31,26N 32.9E. Course S47E at 10.4 knots. Wind NE force 1 with broken cloud.
1315. Hauled in Patent log. Hoisted pilot flag.
1400. Pilot arrived. Proceeded into harbour.
1430. Stopped. Let go port anchor. Made fast astern to number 8 buoy. (Unable to read handwriting but there appears to be some reference to Navy House and the number 340)
1700. Coaling ship.
2000. Wind calm with broken cloud. Finished coaling. Received 104 tons. Cleaning ship.

Coal expended 15 tons 3 cwt. Number on sick list NIL.

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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