evidence: It wasn’t until 18th September 1955 that an expedition team from HMS Vidal were helicoptered onto Rockall and fastened a plaque which read, "By Authority of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her Other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, 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, H.M.S. Vidal, 18 September 1955". However, my favourite story was that Greenpeace once landed on the island and, using a purpose-built capsule, stayed there for a while. They had hoped that the Royal Navy would be sent to remove them from Rockall and they would gain a huge amount of publicity. However, they had not thought of the cunning tactics of then Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. He discovered that the protesters were all British, and issued the decree that, "Rockall is a British territory.