Editing Rockall (section)

==== British annexation ====
[[File:Rockall Union flag hoisted 1955.jpg|right|thumb|upright=0.9|Lieutenant Commander Desmond Scott hoists the [[Union Flag]] in 1955.]]

On 18 September 1955, Rockall was [[Annexation|annexed]] by the British Crown when [[Lieutenant-Commander]] Desmond Scott [[Royal Navy|RN]], [[Sergeant]] Brian Peel [[Royal Marines|RM]], [[Corporal]] AA Fraser RM, and [[James Fisher (naturalist)|James Fisher]] (a civilian [[natural history|naturalist]] and former Royal Marine), were winched onto the island by a [[Royal Navy helicopter]] from {{HMS|Vidal}} (coincidentally named after the man who first charted the island). The annexation of Rockall was announced by the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] on 21 September 1955.<ref>{{cite news |title=On This Day: 1955 – Britain claims Rockall |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/21/newsid_4582000/4582327.stm |website=BBC News |date=21 September 1955 |access-date=25 June 2019}}</ref>

The expedition team cemented in a brass plaque on Hall's Ledge and hoisted the [[Union Flag]] to stake the UK's claim. The inscription on the plaque read:
{{quotation|BY AUTHORITY OF HER MAJESTY [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|QUEEN ELIZABETH THE SECOND]], BY THE GRACE OF GOD OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND AND OF HER OTHER [[Commonwealth realms|REALMS]] AND TERRITORIES, QUEEN, [[Head of the Commonwealth|HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH]], [[Fidei defensor|DEFENDER OF THE FAITH]], ETC. ETC. ETC. AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH HER MAJESTY'S INSTRUCTIONS DATED 14. 9. 55. A LANDING WAS EFFECTED ON THIS DAY UPON THE ISLAND OF ROCKALL FROM H.M.S. VIDAL. THE UNION FLAG WAS HOISTED AND POSSESSION OF THE ISLAND WAS TAKEN IN THE NAME OF HER MAJESTY. [Signed] R H Connell, [[Captain (Royal Navy)|CAPTAIN]], H.M.S. VIDAL, 18 SEPTEMBER 1955}} It was the final territorial expansion of the British empire.<ref>{{cite web |title=On this day 18 September 1955 |url=https://www.fleetairarmoa.org/news/on-this-day-18-september-1955|publisher=Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association |access-date=23 August 2019}}</ref>

The initial incentive for the annexation was the test-firing of the UK's first guided [[nuclear weapon]], the American-made [[MGM-5 Corporal|Corporal missile]]. The missile was to be launched from [[South Uist]] and sent over the North Atlantic. The [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] was concerned that the unclaimed island would provide an opportunity for the [[Soviet Union]] to spy on the test. Consequently, in April 1955 an order was issued to the Admiralty to seize the island and declare UK sovereignty, lest it become an outpost for foreign observers.

On 7 November 1955, J. Abrach Mackay, an 84-year- old local councillor and member of the [[Clan Mackay]], made a protest about the annexation; he declared: "My old father, God rest his soul, claimed that island for the Clan of Mackay in 1846 and I now demand that the Admiralty hand it back. It's no' theirs." The British Government ignored the protest.<ref name="The Independent ~ 12 June 1997"/><ref name="dokuf"/>

In 1971,<ref name="gov001"/> Captain T. R. Kirkpatrick [[Royal Engineers|RE]] led the landing party on a government expedition named "Operation Top Hat" that was mounted from {{ship|RFA|Engadine|K08|6}} to establish that the rock was part of the United Kingdom and to prepare the islet for the installation of a light beacon. The landing party included Royal Engineers, Royal Marines and civilian members from the Institute of Geological Sciences in London. The party was landed by winch line from the Wessex 5 helicopters of the Royal Naval Air Services Commando Headquarters Squadron, commanded by Lt Cmdr Neil Foster RN. As well as collecting samples of the [[aegirine]] granite, "rockallite", for later analysis in London, the top of the rock was blown off using a newly developed blasting technique, precision pre-splitting. This created a level area that was drilled to take the anchorages for the light beacon that was installed the following year. Two [[phosphor bronze]] plates were chased into the wall above Hall's Ledge, each secured by four 80-tonne rock-anchor bolts; there was no evidence of the brass plate installed in 1955.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

Establishing that the rock is part of the United Kingdom and its development as a light beacon facilitated{{clarify|date=February 2024}} the incorporation of the island into the District of Harris in the County of Inverness under the [[Island of Rockall Act 1972]]. It would have{{clarify|date=February 2024}} reinforced the UK Government's claim with regard to seabed rights in the area at the time.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

In 1978,<ref name="RCT"/> eight members of the [[Dangerous Sports Club]], including [[David Kirke (sportsperson)|David Kirke]], one of its founders, held a cocktail party on the island,<ref name="Telegraph"/> allegedly leaving with the plaque.<ref name="Spectator"/>

Former [[Special Air Service|SAS]] member and [[Survivalism|survival]] expert [[Tom McClean]] decided to live on the island from 26 May 1985 to 4 July 1985 to affirm the UK's claim to the islet.<ref name="oire9"/>