01 June 1958

June 1958 Malacca Straits

Paluau Tioman

Palau Aur

Palau Redan

F .M. Thomas Known as Mike or Tomo

We were married in April 1958. We decided to get married as I was going to join Cossack in Singapore in June of that year (the “overseas” allowance for being married would be useful, as indeed it was). After a very tearful goodbye I flew out to Singapore to join Cossack and didn’t see my “new wife” for eighteen months, the only communication being the flimsy air mail letters of the time. As I had already spent eighteen months on HMS Newcastle in the Far East previously I knew what to expect and it was a repeat “showing the flag”. In many places, Australia and New Zealand in particular with lots of invites and hospitality from the locals. My wife “bless her” stayed at her parents and carried on with her job (as a divorce clerk at a local solicitors).

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE

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.

READ MORE