08 December 1871

2000. Geographe Bay to Fremantle. Wind SW force 1 increasing to 2. Barometer 30.14 inches.

 

Remarks

Found on sounding towards the shore that the water shoaled very gradually and that we might have anchored about a mile off. The mark is very conspicuous as it shows against the trees and is situated a few yards to the left of the pier. The timber station situated to the west of Brusselton could not be made out on our coming in as it is situated quiet in the Bight of the Bay and would, I think, only be seen by vessels coming in  round Cape Naturalist. To the eastward of our anchorage was another timber station and pier about 3 miles from Brusselton – off which the barque BRIDGETOWN was  at anchor. Our observations were correct by the chart but the position of Cape naturalist appeared to be 2 miles to the southward of its position as shown. On our way back to Fremantle we caught a glimpse of the Bunbay Fixed light at the distance of about 15 nautical miles.

Exercised firing at target.

1755. Weighed and picked up target.

1915. Governor Wild of Western Australia came onboard. Saluted him with 17 guns.

1930 Proceeded. Shaped course N by E. Set Topsails. Top gallant sails and Froe sail.

2330. Sounded in 20 fathoms – sand. Stopped.

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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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