Free Radio Forum: Re: SS Richard Montgomery

Thanks for the updates Dave - I guess it will now be "Out of sight, out of mind" 😡

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Here is the last mast removal from the SS Richard Montgomery -

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For anyone who has been following the mast removal here is mast number 2 bing lifted out of the sea

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I know that the SS Richard Montgomery wreck story and Pirate/Offshore Radio association is a bit tenuous but every time I see the Thames estuary it reminds me of all that happened in the North Sea in past years. Anyway for those interested here is a link to a not too good quality short video of the first mast being lifted out of the sea -

https://www.facebook.com/groups/184572175211655/posts/2983333405335504/

I have mentioned before about a wonderful trip out to the MiAmigo in the 70's on a flat bottomed boat called the Captain Cook, there were 80 odd Pirate Radio/Caroline fans on board and the trip left Tilbury about 8.00am in the morning and did not get back until about midnight! Spangles Muldoon was on board and told us a lot of stories about the old days. There were 2 people on board dressed very smartly who did not mix with us they just sat there holding briefcases with new looking Pirate Radio stickers on them. Word went round that they were Home Office "plants" but this was denied. When we got out the the MiAmigo they sprang into action taking loads of pictures of the inflatable that was sent over from the MiAmigo. When we reached the MiAmigo everyone went to one side of the boat and it developed quite a list to one side and an appeal was made to spread the load! If anybody on here can remember this trip or can link to any stories or pictures I would be very pleased 😊 I have always regretted not taking any pictures at the time. Thanks.

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Thanks for the link, I had no idea there was a song about the S.S. Richard Montgomery.

I live in Sheerness and cycle along the seafront most days and have seen the barge and attendant tugs at work. It will look strange out there after they have been removed. Our local newspaper stupidly reckons it's known by us locals as the 'Monty'. This is utter nonsense, it's always been known as and referred to simply as 'The Wreck'.

Quite a few years ago I worked for a friend on a trawler based in Queenborough and spent some happy times fishing for Dover Sole off of Sheerness in the early spring. On many occasions we towed near the wreck from the northern side, on the western edge of the Great Nore.

We always had a large bucket of water on hand when we hauled the gear to place, with great care, the dodgy looking bomb fuses that came up mixed in with the catch. This was to stop them 'fizzing' when exposed to air. There were always one or two, sometimes more. At some point part of the cargo must have spilled out with the tidal movements scattering the fuses along along with some artillery shells. Luckily we never hauled up a shell, although over time the odd one or two shells have ended up on the beach.

On the way home we always went as close to the wreck as allowed and very gently put them back in the sea.

Such fun days indeed.