17 July 1901

Moored to Pier at Port Victoria Seychelles. Wind SSE force 3 to 5 with overcast sky and rain. Barometer 30.10 inches falling to 30.05 at 1600 and then rising to 30.17 at 2000 before finishing at 30.12 inches at midnight. Temperature at noon 80F. 0200. Lit fires in three boilers. 0500. Prepared for sea. 0800. Wind SSE force 3 to 5 with broken cloud and squalls. 0900. Torpedo crews at drill. Training class at instruction. Remainder cleaning ship. 1130. Unmoored ship. Noon. Wind SSE force 3 to 5 with broken cloud passing sowers and squalls. Proceeded as requisite. 1330. Shaped to N27E for Curieuse Bay.1430. Altered course to N44E at 85 revolutions. 1545 Altered course to N76E at 90 revolutions. Field gun crews at drill. Remainder as requisite. 1600. Wind east force 3 with broken cloud.  1615. Course as requisite for harbour. 1700. Stopped. Came to on port anchor in Curieuse Bay. Anchor Bearings S by E point of Curieuse Island. N Point of Praslin Island  -NW. St Pierre Island –  E ¾  S. Draught forward 14 feet 7 inches. Aft 15 feet 9 inches. Coal expended 9 tons 18 cwt.  Number on sick list 5.

Curieuse Island is a small granitic island 1.13 sq mi (2.9 km2) in the Seychelles close to the north coast of the island of Praslin.

In 1829, Curieuse was first used as a leper colony, and it functioned in this capacity until 1965. This helped protect the ecosystem from human influence. Today, ruins of the leprosarium remain, as well as the former physician’s residence at Anse St. Joseph (now an educational centre and museum).

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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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