The Radio Forts of the Thames Estuary
Updated: 1st April 2022 Issue: 1
A sailing from Queenborough on the Isle-of-Sheppey on 13th August 2017
This 'Grand Fort Tour' with Jerry Pitcher, who along with Cliff Cuttelle was one of the first to board the Knock John Fort with broadcast intentions. Marooned with basic provisions they acted as a guards for Radio City in the summer of 1965 ahead of the ensuing battle for control of the Fort
The masts of the wreck of the S.S 'Richard Montgomery'
Close view of the S.S 'Richard Montgomery'
The American Liberty ship partly laden with unexploded ordnance is on the Nore Sands close to the approaches to the River Medway, photograph clearly shows the proximity to the shore
Car transport RoRo passing #2 Medway Channel Buoy
WEC Lines Container Ship in the Oaze Deep
Angling Boat 'Cymyliea'
In the Oaze Deep passing North of Red Sands Army Forts
More later ...
Maersk Line Container Ship in the Oaze Deep inbound for Thames Port
Container Ship passes Port Buoy #7 in the Knock Deep Channel
The formidable Knock John Naval Fort beyond ...
Knock
John Naval Fort looking South East |
Knock
John Naval Fort looking South |
Knock John Naval Fort looking South East
Knock John Naval Fort looking South East
Radio City that broadcast from nearby Shivering Sands had designs on the Knock John Naval as he entered negotiations to see Radio City
With Jerry Pitcher emerging from underneath Knock John Naval Fort North legs!
Jerry Pitcher marks his return to the Knock John Fort having acted as a Fort Guard in 1965
Audio |
|
Jerry
Pitcher recalls his time aboard the Knock John Naval Fort acting
as a Fort Guard for Radio City in the summer of 1965 |
See Jerry Pitchers features, links at the foot of the page
Someone went through the gap, marks from a glancing blow to the Knock John Naval Fort North leg!
Knock John Naval Fort East side
Unknown to Reg Calvert, Roy Bates had also earmarked the Knock John for his Radio Essex project
Knock John Naval Fort remains of top from West side
Jerry Pitcher enjoys the moment
Knock John Naval Fort looking South West with Shivering Sands visible between legs
Jerry Pitcher & Cliff Cuttelle were left behind to look after the Fort, a little later Dick Dixon joined them to cobble together the rudimentary gear to make a test broadcast
Knock John Naval Fort looking South West
Note the Flood Tide rip always prevalent at Knock John
Knock John Naval Fort looking South West with Shivering Sands visible between legs
With David Phillips, Jerry Pitcher off Knock John Naval Fort
In the summer of 1965 Reg Calvert took Paul Elvey, Jerry Pitcher & Cliff Cuttelle with modest supplies & a some redundant Radio City kit to the Fort
Jerry Pitcher with Knock John Naval Fort
Wildly reported in the press as a Pirate Radio Battle the reality was that clambering aboard Knock John Roy Bates was put-out finding the rival crew so decamped them to Shivering Sands
Shivering Sands Army Fort looking North from the X-Pilot
Shivering Sands Army Fort was the most attractive to Reg Calvert for his Radio Sutch publicity project
Boarding the Fort with David 'Screaming Lord' Sutch & Brian Paull they somehow made a weak signal using very basic ex-MoD equipment in late May 1964
Shivering Sands Army Fort looking North East
Shivering Sands Army Fort looking South West from L-R Gun Towers #4, 3, 1 & Control Tower
David Sutch tired of project but Reg had always harped after having a radio station so took over
Renaming the station Radio City, slightly better equipment was installed, using cheap & free labour he kept things ticking over
Shivering Sands Army Fort Searchlight Tower looking East to Knock John & Car Transport RoRo ship
Angling
boat off Shivering Sands Army
Fort Searchlight
Tower looking West |
Shivering
Sands Army Fort Bofors,
Searchlight & Gun Towers #2 &3 looking North East |
By late 1965 with a more competent team running Radio City had put financial pressures on Reg so he entered into negotiations with Project Atlanta who ran Radio Caroline South from the Mi-Amigo off the Frinton, Essex coast
Shivering Sands Army Fort Searchlight Tower looking West
Shivering
Sands Army
Fort Bofors &
Gun Tower #3 |
Shivering
Sands Army
Fort Gun Tower #3 |
During this period Radio City broadcast Radio Caroline news & a number of advertisements, but the deal wasn't making headway so dialog was opened with Radio London that also broadcast off Frinton, Essex
Angling boat off Shivering Sands Army Fort Gun Tower #3 & 4
Shivering Sands Army Fort Control Tower
A slick professional operation Radio London weren't impressed with what they saw at Shivering Sands so backed off
Angling boat off Shivering Sands Gun Tower #3
Shivering Sands looking South
Tragically Project Atlanta Director Oliver Smedley took exception to the Radio London discussions & raided Shivering Sands with a crew of Gravesend Dockers closing Radio City down
Events spun out of control resulting in the tragic death of Reg Calvert
Shivering Sands North Cardinal Buoy
Red Sands Army Fort looking North West
Following in the shadow of nearby Radio City, Radio Invicta came on-air from the Red Sands Army Forts in early June 1964
Red Sands Army Fort looking North West
Owned by Folkestone Fisherman Harry Featherbee aka Tom Pepper & partner Publican Charlie Evans they were assisted in launching the station by Canadian radio journalist John Thompson
Red Sands Army Fort looking North
Sadly Tom Pepper perished with Radio Engineer Martin Shaw & DJ Simon Ashley on a return run to the Fort
Red Sands Army Fort Searchlight & Gun Tower #2 looking East
Company Secretary David Lye and Mike Raven set-up KING Radio (London) retaining a number of Invicta DJ's, poor signal, lack of advertising compounded the stations problem
Red Sands Army Fort Searchlight Tower
David Lye contacted local Romney Marsh Gentleman Farmer, Advertising Executive & Public Relations man Ted Allbeury
Red
Sands Army Fort, Catwalk to Control, Gun #2 & Searchlight Towers |
Red Sands Army Fort Gun #4, Control, Gun #1 Towers |
Red Sands circa 2008 G1 to Control Catwalk collapse (2021)
S.B 'Ironside' passing Red Sands Army Fort to the South East
Ted as M.D brought about a service targeting Housewives with an easy listening MoR (Middle of the Road) format
Leaving Red Sands Army Fort with Shivering Sands beyond
Radio 390 became highly successful & without costly court cases would have probably been the most profitable of all the Offshore stations
Grain Fort (Grain Tower Battery)
Grain Fort with Garrison Point Fort were guardians of the River Medway Estuary
Grain Fort (Grain Tower Battery)
Grain Fort Chains
These chains led to Garrison Fort on the Southern shore and raised to prevent ships entering the Medway, those that took the chance risked wrecking their wooden hulls
Grain Fort
Grain Fort
For the history & more photographs see our feature on Grain Tower Battery
Thanks to Jerry Pitcher, Michael Hall, David Phillips, Zena and Frank for their help in producing this feature
See Jerry Pitcher's pages Jerry Pitchers Artwork : Jerry Pitcher Whitstable
See the earliest boarding pictures of Knock John in Radio Sutch & City Pictures - Part 15
Details of X-Pilot Sailings