Left ... Unusual Sisters, the fascinating and highly informative book by Anthony Lane and Martin Augustus. The book features many detailed images depicting the build and in turn the machinery involved with that of LV79 and her sister ship LV78. For anyone wishing to learn more about the role of the lightships and there construction this book is definitely one to add to your library.
ABOVE
LIGHT VESSEL LV79 (HAMMOND KNOLL) ON HER FORMER STATION AT GIRDLER SAND / CENTRAL THAMES ESTUARY.
LOCATED BY NEIL HOOPER IN 2025 . Research and identification Neil Hooper and Paul Hennessey
Position ... Withheld
Built ... 1914
Builder ... J. I. Thornycroft, Southampton
Tonnage ... 103grt
Length ... 84 feet
Construction ... Steel and iron
Loss date ... 10th March 1941
Cause of loss ... Unknown, likely to have been destroyed by enemy action
Acknowledgements ... Anthony Lane and Martin Augustus (Unusual Sisters)
History of LV79
Built in 1914 by John Thorneycroft of Southampton for Trinity House. Stations between 1914 and 1918 unknown. From 1918 - 1939 / 40 LV79 served at the Girdler station in the Thames estuary. On leaving the Girdler station LV79 was to see service on the Hammond Knoll station until such time of her loss on the 10th March 1941.
Below ... A detailed drawing of LV79 by Martin Augustus co author of the book Unusual Sisters. The hull layout is as it would have been prior to being stationed on Hammond Knoll.
.
Both Anthony and Martin have their own dedicated websites which readers may find of interest. Please follow the links below.
CLICK ON LINK BELOW FOR A POTTED HISTORY OF J. I. THORNYCROFT & CO, BUILDERS OF BOTH THE LV 79 AND HER SISTER VESSEL LV78
Circumstances of loss (Unknown)
At present (2025) no official record can be found relating to the loss of LV79 other than the loss date of the 10th March 1941. Trinity House sadly hold no record of the loss. It is highly likely that LV79 was a victim of German forces, be this by air attack or by sea. In order to disrupt allied shipping / navigation the light vessels made for easy targets and in turn were regularly attacked. Of note ... LV79 was no longer manned during her short time on Hammond Knoll station, in turn all workings of the light were automated in order to remove the risk of casualties caused through enemy action.
Light vessel LV79 today
Today the LV79 sits upright and fully intact on a sandy seabed at 35mtrs. Although partially sunk into the seabed the hull still shows itself to have a height of 1.5 - 2mtrs above the seabed. What now remains of the tubular tower and light have fallen over to the starboard side of the wreck and now reach out from the upper part of the superstructure down to the seabed. Most of the tubular tower has now rotted away, this in turn now exposing the ladder that was situated within as a means of access to the lantern above. The light is still to be seen, as is the structure that housed it. The superstructure as previously stated is fully intact and in turn offers open access to the compartments within. At the aft end of the superstructure and housed in a hanger frame can be seen a giant bell, this being in the region of three feet in diameter across the base. Of note .. The bell is either of iron or steel construction, not brass! Due to the intact nature of the site, LV79 offers itself as an excellent opportunity as to gain a level of understanding regarding the construction and ultimately the method of use of lightships.
Of note ... Despite extensive on site investigations no obvious cause of loss has been identified.
Below ... Images taken from the book Unusual Sisters of the tubular tower and light of LV78, these being similar to her sister vessel LV79. Reproduced with the very kind permission of Anthony Lane and Martin Augustus.
Below ... Base of the light housing complete with its resident lobster. Image courtesy of Neil Hooper
Below ... The ladder located within the tubular mast as used in order to access the light. Sadly the steel tubular mast has now long rotted away. This in turn now allowing full view of the internal iron ladder. Image courtesy of Neil Hooper
Below ... Looking up inside the fog bell Courtesy of Neil Hooper.
A brief explanation of the use of the bell courtesy of Anthony Lane. The bell aft of the deckhouse is a fog bell at that size. The earlier automated vessels (1907 onwards) had such bells swung by the motion of the ship but they later were fitted with hammers driven by compressed carbon dioxide which sounded in a controlled fashion. I feel that LV79 did not have that level of sophistication with it having a temporary wartime level of automation.
Below ... Video footage of the LV79 as she is today (2025) Courtesy of Neil Hooper