Conditions prevent re boarding of COSSACK

HMS COSSACK sinks at 1043.  35.12N 08.17W

‘They will not be forgotten’

ADM1/11846 – cause of sinking

1. The fresh water ran out, thus preventing steam being kept after 1800 on 24 October.
2. The submersible pump could not be used owing to lack of suction hoses and adequate electric leads
3. The Downton Pump could not be used owing to absence of suctions
4. The Tug THAMES escorted by HMS JONQUIL arrived 10 hours late having been misdirected
5. No salvage pump was sent in THAMES
6. The heavy weather which blew up on the 26^th

Postscript

Many survivors were picked up by HMS Legion and taken to Gibraltar where those in hospital were visited by Vian. They were then discharged to HMS Victory taking passage in HMS Rodney to Loch Ewe. From here they were transported in open Army trucks wearing only their survivor’s kit to Inverness. A good meal was made available in the hotel by the station and some survivors found partners to dance with to the music being provided

Springall, H.J. P/SS12571 Stoker 1^st Class,

Wallace, R.J.G. P/JX15366 Able Seaman

When HMS Cossack was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic in October 1941 a number of survivors were picked up by other ships.   These two were amongst them but both were severely wounded and needed urgent hospital treatment.   HMS Legion took them to Ponta Delgada, the Azores being neutral, where they were taken into hospital.   Unfortunately both died of their wounds and were buried in the British Protestant Cemetery in Ponta Delgada, St Michaels Island.