Herbert William Ward

HMS Cossack

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. It seems that Herbert Ward was killed during this engagement. 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)

HMS Cossack was torpedoed and sunk in October 1941 with the loss of 159 men.

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL Panel 40 Column 1

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