An important revision to note ....

Off topic from our immediate and current theme, but in keeping with our main research and ongoing investigation, we now draw your attention to our revised entry on this Blog for 1/14/2022 

While citing 'And the World Listened' in relation to the non-broadcasting ship 'Ceto' (see link in the paragraph above), we came across what appears to be an out-of-sequence insertion of a paragraph into the time flow of the manuscript of this book. It appears on page 162 and it refers to the 'Caroline Kennedy Hoax' which is stated as fact, even though it is a hoax that first appeared in the Spring of 1965, which is long after the creation of 'Radio Caroline'.

However, this section of the book which includes pages 161 to 163, deals with events in 1955 and 1956, and so the paragraph referred to that appears on page 162, is out of sequence. It appears to be an anecdotal insertion, but it is totally bogus in its content because it is an invented anecdote that never happened in the manner and time described. Plainly put, it is false and it does not belong in this book which does contain some excellent original information about Captain Plugge.

The hardback version of this book by Keith Wallis with an introduction by Professor Sean Street, has become a major source of reference for many publications since it was first published in 2008. Most of the references are in relation to the pre-World War II broadcasting activities of Captain Leonard F. Plugge, and this includes a detailed section about the salvage yacht 'Ceto' that plainly states that it was not a broadcasting ship. Unfortunately the authors seem to have omitted references to the 1927-1928 pioneering BBC broadcasts offshore from the vessel 'Magician'!

Also missing is a detailed explanation regarding the reason why the 'Daily Mail' and 'His Master's Voice' records teamed-up to engage in this publicity stunt involving the salvage yacht 'Ceto'. The story beginning on page 66 refers to Leslie Mainland of the 'Daily Mail'. Who is he? It claims that Mainland consulted Valentine Smith, chief of publicity for the 'Daily Mail' which was part of group of newspapers that included the 'Evening News' and 'Sunday Dispatch' all controlled by Harold Harmsworth who was known as Lord Rothermere.

Then there is the connection with Gordon Fenwick of His Master's Voice records. In 1928, HMV records was a major label created by The Gramophone Company Limited controlled by the U.S. Victor Talking Machine Company which merged with the  Radio Corporation of America in 1929 to become RCA Victor. In 1931,  the Gramophone Company Limited which became a part of RCA Victor, merged with the Columbia Graphophone Company to create a new conglomerate under the name of Electric and Musical Industries Limited (EMI).

So who was really pulling the strings to manipulate this publicity stunt?

If the press threads attached to the 'Daily Mail' are followed back in time, they become entangled with an aristocrat with a son who later became attached to Jocelyn Stevens and the beginnings of Radio Caroline in Nineteen Sixty Four.

But if we take another look at the publication year of this book by Keith Wallis, with an introduction by Professor Sean Street, we are now wandering around in that murky year of 1990 when a new UK Broadcasting Act turned the clocks back before 1876 when the 'Hovering Acts' were repealed. It was learning about the repeal of those Acts of Parliament that gave Allan Crawford the 'go ahead' with his plans for 'Radio Atlanta'. That same Act of 1990 also made it impossible for anyone to operate an unlicensed British offshore broadcasting station, including the venture which had adopted the name of 'Radio Caroline' and broadcast from a ship called 'Ross Revenge'!

In addition, the year 1990 cracked open the floodgates to a library of misinformation in books, magazines, newspaper articles as well as radio and television documentaries concerning the 1964 origins of 'Radio Caroline'. Who did these authors think that they were serving? Not students of broadcasting history, nor the fans of offshore radio who called themselves anoraks.

But as time has gone on, the number of books and articles has increased to the point that the absurd publications of Paul Rusling have appeared under the supporting endorsement of a man he calls "Sir Hans Knot"!