DUNCAN departs from Gibraltar with medical supplies and surgeon. Tug THAMES and corvettes CARNATION and JONQUIL depart Gibraltar
HMS Carnation picked up 49 survivors whilst LEGION, ARIGUANI and COMMANDANT Le BOC picked up the others
0100 Commander Halliwell of COSSACK was picked up by LEGION and transferred at 0130 to CARNATION
0145 CARNATION passed towing line with LEGION standing by. The tow proceeded at 3 knots but was reduced because of adverse weather conditions. Cdr Halliwell took a damage control party onboard COSSACK to begin the fight to save her. (Engineering Lt McLeod, CPO Allpress, PO Beech, AB Broom, Boy Davis from COSSACK and fire party from CARNATION). Allpress discharged torpedoes with stop valves shut. Three seriously injured were found onboard (Sub Lt Day and two ratings) and Surgeon Lt Scott of COSSACK returned on board to attend to them.
Recollection of David Broom. (Able Seaman. P/JX 156413) About 0145 we jumped across and took a hose forward and started to put out the fire which was burning in the aft end of the bridge in the ‘Comforts Store’ where there was a large stock of soap, warm clothing and other articles. We also put water on the coal that was burning in the messdeck coal bunker. At 0530 the fire was out and we returned to CARNATION which cast off. We were given hot food and drink and slept for a while.
0600 COSSACK showed signs of sinking and all hands returned to CARNATION
0800 Boarding party return onboard. Steam was raise in No 3 boiler room. ‘Y’ magazine and shell room flooded to restore the freeboard forward. By the evening the boiler room and machinery had to be shut down as the feed water was expended
Recollection of David Broom. (Able Seaman. P/JX 156413). At 0800 on the 24th the Carnation went back alongside the Cossack and I went back onboard her. I put on my boots and duffle coat which were where I had left them on the Gun Deck. Up until then I had been wearing overalls and plimsolls given to me by someone on the Carnation. The Engineer Officer then asked Ivor Davis and myself to go into the Number 3 Boiler Room and work the oil fuel pump. This was at the back of the boiler. We were alone and in very uneasy strange surroundings. Steam was raised and we returned on deck.
The motorboat was still in its davits when I returned to the deck and with some help I got it into the water and with Ivor as crew took it away and recovered two Carley Floats which I took to Cossack and made fast alongside the ship’s port side aft. The motorboat was then made fast to the starboard side using a long boat rope and a breast rope
1055 Enemy plane approaches but is driven off by the guns of COSSACK and CARNATION.
Recollection of David Broom. (Able Seaman. P/JX 156413). At 1055 the Carnation sounded ‘A’s on her siren and I saw a Focke-Wolfe Condor approaching on the starboard side
1900 Hands transferred back aboard CARNATION for the night.
Telegram from London on military situation 10/25/41
Telegram from London dated October 25th. Correction to telegram dated October 24th: in second paragraph for H.M.S. “Maori” read H.M.S. “Cossack” and for “10 miles” read “ll0 miles.” (Latest reports state that H.M.S. Cossack is proceeding to harbour in tow).
