06 November 1871

Anchored off St Pauls Islands – at single anchor. Wind north westerly force 4 becoming NNW force 4. Barometer 30.36 inches. Maximum temperature 59F.

0415. Made sail.

0445. Sighted the island of St Paul bearing SW. Trimmed sails. Shaped course SSW. Shortened sail and came to in 20 fathoms abreast of Crater Lake with broken bottom and veered to 76 fathoms. Anchorage bearings. Ninepin Rock N55W magnetic. Hutchinson’s Point S15W magnetic.

The after part of the wreck of MEGARA is still to be seen right on the bar with the four boilers awash in about 1 to 2 fathoms of water outside but nothing could be seen of the rest of the hull having fallen in to the deep water of the Crater lake on the bar. Ballast cables etc were never seen. The two Frenchmen of the island hoisted French Colours. They say that on the same day the men left in the MEGARA a gale from the SE drove her u further and also parted on the 6 September. Captain and officials landed and found great quantities of stores of all descriptions. Took shore observations for errors of chronometers and found they had kept their old rates from the Cape notwithstanding the cold weather. Lowered the screw.

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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