[3] He served in the British Army during World War II, rising to the rank of major, and was injured several times.

[7] Using the military equipment that was left on the platform, Bates used an old United States Air Force radio beacon to broadcast his station.

[6][9] Bates moved his operation to the nearby Roughs Tower, another Maunsell Fort further out beyond the then boundary of the United Kingdom's territorial waters, but, despite having the necessary equipment, he never began broadcasting again.

[10] 19 days later, on 2 September 1967, Bates declared the independence of Roughs Tower and deemed it the Principality of Sealand.

[11] He was released, and the act of diplomatic negotiation was claimed by Roy Bates to be de facto recognition of Sealand, which Germany has denied.

His son Michael was then in charge of the administration of Sealand as "Prince Regent", although he lived on the British mainland.

[11] On 9 October 2012, Paddy Bates died quietly at a care home in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex[15] after having had Alzheimer's for several years.