14 May 1900

Moored in Suez Basin. Draught 15 feet 8 inches aft. 14 feet 7 inches forward. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud. Barometer 30.08 inches rising to 30.10 inches at 0800 and then falling to 30.03 at noon and to 29.97 at 1600 and to 29.95 at 2000 before finishing at 29.98 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 69F.

0530. Slipped and proceeded.
0610. Put over patent log. Shaped to S12 ½ E.
0800. Wind north force 2 with broken cloud.
0930. Divisions.
1100. Put clock on 10 minutes.
Noon. Position 30.54N 32.52E. Course S12 ½ E at 8 knots.  Wind north force 3 with blue sky.
1300. Firing Morris tubes from 6 inch and 3 pounder.
1530. Ras Gharib lighthouse abeam.

Before the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the city of Ras Ghareb, north of the Red Sea, owned an archaeological tower constructed by the famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel.

The lighthouse in the Al-Sakkala region is located on the coast of the city of Ras Gharib. The lighthouse of Ras Gharib is one of the oldest lighthouses in the world, which was established in 1871, during the era of Khedive Ismail, while the construction of the Eiffel Tower began in 1887.

The lighthouse was established after the opening of the “Suez Canal”. The lighthouse is located on a circle 28.213 degrees north, and longitude 33.68 east. Its purpose was to guide ships, secure marine navigation, and drive ships away from the coral reef areas.

1600. Wind north force 4 to 5 with blue sky. Course S38E. Watch – Man and arm ship. Scrub and wash clothes.
2000. Wind north force 3 with blue sky. (?) light abeam. (Unable to read handwriting.)
2030. Sighted S – (?)
2240. Altered course to S27 ½ E. Put clock on 4 minutes.

Coal expended 16 tons 10 cwt. Number on sick list 9.

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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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