Just thought I would post some photos of where I displayed Bob's generous gifts up the room . . . Thanks again, mon ami!:smile2:
Louis
Just as you promised and it's my absolute pleasure to see HMS Cossack's crest and the Somerset Light Infantry WWI medals now perfectly arranged and proudly displayed in your military museum.
The Tribal Class HMS Cossack was one of the most famous destroyers of WWII. On the 15th February 1940, Captain Philip Vian received information that the 13,580 ton German supply vessel Altmark had been sighted off Trondheim, Norway. It was further reported that the Altmark was carrying 300 British prisoners (captured by the Admiral Graf Spee during her rampage across the South Atlantic in 1939). .
The First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill ordered HMS Cossack into the fjord. A boarding party of three officers, led by Lieut.-Commander Bradwell Talbot-Turner, and thirty ratings armed with hand guns and navy cutlasses scaled the starboard side of Altmark shouting out "The Royal Navy's here" and after a brisk action, in which four Germans were killed and five wounded, the Altmark was secured with 299 of her British captives successfully released.
On the 26th of May 1941, the Cossack leading the 4DF (4th Destroyer Flotilla) was ordered to join with the Home Fleet battleships searching for the Bismarck. The Fleet's own Destroyers were running short of fuel and needed to be relieved as a matter of urgent priority. That night they sighted the Bismarck and despite being seriously outgunned Cossack managed to launch three torpedoes from 6,000 yards. Two hits on the mighty German battleship being recorded. The other Destroyers made similar attacks and kept the Bismarck engaged until the Royal Navy battleships arrived at dawn to finally finish off the job.
Cossack and her sisters next joined Force H at Gibraltar seeing much activity on defending convoys to Malta from U-boat and E-boat attack, as well as escorting the capital ships Ark Royal, Nelson and Renown.
Sadly on the 23rd Octiober 1941, HMS Cossack received a hit from a torpedo fired by the U-boat U-563. Remarkably Cossack did not sink immediately. Seeing that Cossack was still very buoyant, she was reboarded , the engine started and, only managing to going astern, tried to make the long voyage back to Gibraltar. For a night and a day they kept the Cossack moving, but ultimately all was in vain, and the gallant little Cossack finally slipped beneath the waves on the following day. But not before the ships crest was ripped off of the wardroom bulkhead by the first lieutenant before he abandoned ship.
The crest you have was presented to me over 25 years ago- for services rendered to the RN- when I was stationed on the Rock (Gibraltar) for four years.
Quite a story but nice to see that gallant little ship's crest now prominently displayed in Roslyn on the North Shore of Long Island-"The Royal Navy's there" ^&grin
Bob
