Herbert William Ward

Herbert had previously served in HMS Iron Duke

Cossack's first action was on 16 February 1940, under the command of Philip Vian. This was the Altmark Incident in Jøssingfjord, Norway which resulted in the freeing of the Admiral Graf Spee's British prisoners who were being held aboard the supply ship Altmark and the death of eight crew members of the German ship. In the incident the German tanker rammed Cossack with the stern at an angle of about 30° at the level of her bridge and drove the destroyer towards the fiord wall.. Accumulated ice prevented the destroyer being crushed onto the rocky shore and the destroyers powerful engines made her escape from the squeeze possible. Cossack arrived at Leith on 17 February with the 299 freed prisoners. (Wikipedia)

Herbert died two months later on 14 April 1940 of wounds received in action during the Second Battle of Narvik on 13 April. HMS Cossack lost 9 dead with 21 wounded. The dead were buried at sea in Skelfjord and are commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 40 Column 1).

Nottingham Evening Post, 22 February 1940. ‘Nottm. Sailor Boarded The Altmark. Exploit Was Good Fun While It Lasted. Home On Special Leave.'
'It was revealed last night that a young Nottingham sailor, Ordinary Seaman Herbert William Ward, played a prominent part in the Altmark exploit, being a member of the boarding party from HMS Cossack. Seaman Ward, who will be 19 on Saturday, is the son of Mr and Mrs H Ward, of 13, Tiverton-close, Aspley. He is home on special leave and returns to his ship tonight. In a letter to his father he described the exploit as ‘good fun while it lasted, with the opposing side batting well.’ Interviewed by a ‘Post’ representative last night, Seaman Ward was very reticent about the part he played. He described Lieut.-Cmdr Turner, who led the boarding party, as a fine fellow. ‘There were 20 or 30 in the boarding party,; he said. ‘When the Cossack drew alongside, some jumped 10 feet on to the Altmark and others scrambled over the guardrails, with rifles and fixed bayonets. The whole scrap with the Germans was all over in a matter of a quarter of an hour, many of the Altmark crew scrambling on to the shore. As soon as we had released the prisoners the Cossack left and made for home. Seaman Ward paid a tribute to the German doctor on board the Altmark. ‘He was a white man.’ he said, ‘and helped to bandage the British sailor who was shot in the shoulder during the boarding exploit.’ The naval career of Seaman Ward started soon after he left the William Crane school. He spent some time on the Iron Duke and the Wildfire, and 18 months ago was posted to the Cossack. He mentioned that there are two other Nottingham men serving on the vessel – Ordinary Seaman Hunt, who home is in Kirby-street, and Ordinary Seaman Dove, whose parents live in Melbourne-road, Aspley.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Nottingham Evening Post, 23 February 1940. Photograph with caption: ‘Lord Mayor greets Cossack sailor. The Lord Mayor of Nottingham yesterday received at the Council House Ord. Seaman HW Ward and his parents. Ward, a member of the Cossack’s crew, took part in the boarding of the Altemark, and was in Nottingham on leave. In the picture the Lord Mayor is displaying socks for sea boots supplied by the Comforts Fund.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

Nottingham Evening Post, 17 April 1940: ‘ Death of Nottm. Seaman who was Lord Mayor’s Guest. A Nottingham sailor, who was one of the Altmark boarding party and who was entertained at Nottingham Council House when he came home on leave, has died of wounds received in action, and has been buried at sea. He was Seaman Herbert William Ward, 19, of 13, Tiverton-close, Aspley, and his parents have been officially notified by telegram of his death. Seaman Ward was a member of the crew of the Cossack, which boarded the Nazi ‘hell-ship’ and rescued a number of British mercantile officers and seamen who had been captured by the Graf Spee. He came home on special leave in February and returned to his ship on February 22nd. He was invited to the Council House, where he me the Lord Mayor (Coun. Wallis Binch). An old boy of the William Crane School, he volunteered for the Royal Navy and served in the Iron Duke and the Wildfire before being drafted to the Cossack.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)