08 May 1872

Latitude 19.21S. Longitude 179.27. Course N84E. Wind N by E force 3 becoming NW force 1 to 4. Under sail and steam. Maximum temperature 84F 1500.,.Lightening  to Northward.

0730.Observed a schooner to NW.

0800.  In fore and aft sail. Altered course to N ½ W. Wind N by E force 3 to 4. Sighted Matuka Island NE.

0900. Making very little headway against wind and sea . Made sail on port tack. Wind shifting to NW.

1235 sighted Moala Island NNE.

1400 Shortened and furled sails.

1430 Stopped and came to in Matuku Harbour Matuku Island with sandy bottom in i8 fathoms and veered to 2 ½  shackles. Anchorage bearings ( Magnetic) Kara Levu N85E. ????? Island N40W. Wind  NW with heavy showers.

 

Remarks

The prevailing winds during our passage have been from the westward and northward and no trade wind which was although the Directions say are seldom found to the  westward might have been expected and were looked for. On our leaving we has the first day a strong set to SSW of 20 miles but the next day although we had only a light wind we found a tremendous current of 40’ to NW taking us in sight of of the coast. After that we were generally set to the eastward and northward on an average of 15 miles per day. On the day of our sighting Kandavu as will be seen by data there was scarcely any set but the next day in standing to the  eastward we were set S by E 22 miles placing us in the same latitude as the day before. The view of the Island of Matuku is very good. The centre peak of Kara Levu being easily made out.

The course east through the Herald leads rather close to Norths edge of shoal and E ¾ N  course leads through and by which we went in by (Kara Levu E ¾ N) the surf was seen breaking heavily on the reef as far as we could see from the masthead. The rock on the SW corner  of North reef was just awash. The bottom was just seen on the outside edge of the reef very plainly, but quite clear in  mid-channel.

The natives came off in great numbers in their small canoes, ringing off pigs, fowls, yarns and fruit which they sold for coppers and soap. Several of the officers went to see the chief and were well received by the natives. The Wesleyan Mission had a native  missionary here sent from the Island of Lakimba.

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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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