BNTVA Journal Summer 2012

IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE WHO DID NOT MAKE IT THIS FAR AND IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO HAVE

CAMPAIGN The Journal of the BNTVA Registered Charity Number 1131134 TM

Getting Greener Saving Money See page 21

Summer 2012

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AGM & Conference 2012

NAVAD This year on the 3rd October 2012 will be the second National Atomic Veterans Awareness Day

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The new Atomic Veterans Memorial is being unveiled and dedicated at the National Memorial Arboretum at 12.00 hrs All are invited to the ceremony.

Entrance to the reception is by ticket only please apply for yours by 1st September 2012 To Vice-Chairman BNTVA 5657 London WC1N 3XX or email vice-chairman@bntva.com

For those who are going to travel and need accommodation overnight. A special deal has been arranged with: The Three Queens Hotel and Lodge Bridge Street Burton upon Trent DE14 1SY Tel: 0845 230 1334 Email: reservations@threequeenslodge.co.uk Bookings should be made direct with the hotel ref: BNTVA

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Remembrance Sunday 11 Nov 2012 The BNTVA have been allocated 48 tickets for the Remembrance Parade in Whitehall.

If you wish to attend the tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis.

Please send your request for tickets, stating the number required together with a SAE to:

Don James Flat 8a, Peabody Estate, Abbey Orchard Street, Westminster London SW1 2LJ (only requests with a SAE will be actioned) Please do not request more tickets than you intend to use.

Visit the Field of Remembrance with it’s rows of Poppy Crosses, it is a most worthwhile and moving experience reflecting on those who have gone before and given so much.

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The Chaplain writes

Beside the Seaside ‘Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside’, whether in Blackpool or Bournemouth. The Annual Conference of our Association does not, alas, allow much time ‘to stroll along the prom, prom, prom’, but the South Coast provided a change from the breeze (or howling gales) of the Fylde Coast.

But of course we did not gather (in great numbers) with a large contingent of new members – to sample the delights of Bournemouth, though happily some took the opportunity of a long weekend break in that lovely town.

My impression was of a very purposeful conference, getting to grips with the new priorities with which the Board of Trustees has been wrestling: chiefly, how can we inform and educate a new generation about the history of the Nuclear Tests and their vital importance – for better or worse – in the cause of world peace. This will always be a matter of debate and controversy, but what is not in doubt is the cost borne by the 22,000 Service personnel who participated in the British Nuclear Tests in the 1950s, and whose service to our Nation gave rise to the finding of the BNTVA. We were reminded at Bournemouth that we are not alone. Our special guests, Jean-Luc Sans and Yann Cambon, two French Atomic Veterans, came to tell us of their struggle for recognition, and their efforts to ‘tell the tale’ for the benefit of future generations.

Apart from business sessions, the fun of conferences – and they are fun – is to be found in the bar. The reunions, the stories (which lose nothing in the telling) of the passing years! which are so important in keeping the memory alive; as the hymn puts it, we find ‘strength renewed and hope restored.’

I know some of our members find the process of change in the Association difficult to accept, but, as Cardinal John Henry Newman said: ‘To grow is to change. To grow perfect, is to change often.’

Like the Olympic Torch, the flame must be passed on to a new generation if the BNTVA is not to become just a footnote in history. To borrow the words of Lord Kitchener: ‘Your Association Needs You’ This comes with my continuing prayers and good wishes for all our members and your families.

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2012 Conference at Bournemouth Between the 4th and 6th of May the BNTVA held its Conference Weekend at the Heathlands Hotel in Bournemouth. This was the first time we had moved the event away from Blackpool in the hope of making the organisation more accessible to members in other areas of the country.

The Heathlands Hotel, Bournemouth

As guests arrived on the Friday afternoon it soon became clear we had made the right choice; overall attendance was up on the previous years at Blackpool, but more importantly over 90% of members attending had not gone to a meeting for many years or were doing so for the very first time. This was a spectacular result and it has really helped engage as many members as possible ensuring we take on their views and deliver the service they require.

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On the social front many new friendships were formed and old ones reinforced, guests enjoyed two evenings of quality entertainment and contributed to lively debate on the conference floor.

The venue was provided by Britannia Hotels the depth and quality of their service really contributed to making the weekend the success it became.

Britannia provided the Norbreck Castle at Blackpool and we are so pleased with the effort they put in to our events that we will remain with them for the next events in the Midlands and the North.

The bulk of motions at the AGM were as a result of work undertaken by a group of Trustees to review our constitution and ensure it was fit for purpose. All of these motions were debated, some amended and in the end all carried resulting in revised governing documents that provide a clear framework for the way we will conduct business in the future.

You can obtain a copy of the current constitution either by visiting the website www.bntva.com or by sending a stamped addressed envelope to “Constitution, BNTVA BM5657 London WC1N 3XX�.

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Dr Walter Busuttil Director of Combat Stress.

Catherine Crawford, spoke on diet and essential oils.

A motion was also carried committing the BNTVA to work with any Government Department, Member of Parliament, Organisation or Person of note in the pursuance of our aims especially in the area of recognition of the service, contribution to both this nation and world peace and the years of anguish many of our veterans have made and endured.

Chairperson gave a detailed account as to how and why the Association had evolved over the last few years and how that evolution is now being mirrored by many other Veteran’s organisations such as the Royal British Legion.

Membership engagement was discussed; Information from the Board of Trustees is published in this magazine and on the NewsDesk pages of the website. Members can also attend Trustee Board meetings as observers (a list of venues and dates available from Jeff Liddiatt).

During the afternoon session the

Dr Walter Busuttil, the Medical Director of Combat Stress UK gave an insightful presentation on the role of his organisation and Veterans mental health issues. Jeff Liddiatt presented the key findings of the Health Needs Audit conducted by Myles Green Associates. Catherine Crawford conducted well received and informative seminars on Diet and Essential Oils and a speaker from the Friends of the Bournemouth Womens

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Jean-Luc Sans - centre left and Yann Cambon - Centre right.

Charles Stewart, filmed the event and inteviewed for his documentary.

Refuge gave a very interesting enlightening presentation on their work, and the stark facts surrounding the national scope of the plight of people and children trying to escape abusive domestic situations.

Our main guests of the day were representatives from our sister organisation in France-Association des vétérans des essais nucléaires (AVEN).

With Yann Cambon interpreting The words of their President Jean-Luc Sans who called for unity of Veterans across all Nations.

As with the inaugural NAVAD event, Charles Stewart continued to film for his documentary about the Veterans and the BNTVA.

Charles also set aside special time to record 15 minute sessions with Veterans, Spouses and their children.

All this material will be made available for the BNTVA to use and will form a living testimony to the experiences of Veterans and their families.

On the Saturday evening guests were again entertained to a high standard during the Gala Dinner in the presence of the Deputy Mayor of Bournemouth.

The Mayor was unfortunately unable to attend due to a health problem and we are glad to report that all is now well.

A collection in the evening raised funds for the Mayor’s supported charities.

After enjoying a sumptuous buffet breakfast on the Sunday morning friends old and new said their goodbyes many promising to meet again next year in the Midlands.

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Our friends from AVEN

(Association of Veterans of Nuclear Tests) A translation of the speech made at this years AGM at Bournmouth.

For a long time now our association, AVEN, has been following with considerable interest your struggle on behalf of British nuclear test victims.

We are aware of your activities since they have frequently been raised at international conferences, in particular at Algiers in 2007, 2010 and 2011. The sufferings of all the veterans are now recognised as being a matter of international concern.

This of course is why I am so pleased to meet you here today and I thank you most warmly for your invitation.

I am sorry for my poor grasp of the language of Shakespeare but I am lucky enough to have an English friend living in Dordogne who helped me translating and expressing all my support and fellow feeling towards your movement.

It may be helpful for me to give you a short version of our history as an association. It was at the end of the 1990’s that the CDRPC (The French Centre for Documentation and Research on Peace and Conflict) began to receive troubling accounts from military personnel, for the most part former military conscripts who took part in the French nuclear

tests in the Sahara. Initially this information was followed up by Bruno Barrillot, director of the CDRPC, who contacted Dr Jean-Louis Valaxt, a researcher at INSERM (the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research) and former military physician on the Reggan nuclear test site.

In May 2001 Bruno Barrillot was invited to Angers to support the local peace movement at a demonstration against the storage of military grade nuclear waste in the barracks in Angers. While there he met Michel Verger, another conscript involved in the Sahara nuclear tests, who told him of his own experience in the Sahara.

A meeting was then arranged in Lyons attended by the CDRPC, Bruno Barillot and Michel Verger, following which the CDRPC launched a press appeal. 260 veterans, as well as a small association started up in 1996 in South-West France, responded to this call.

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So it was that on the 9th June 2001 the French Association of Nuclear Test Veterans was founded. Our first President was Dr J. Louis Valaxt, assisted by Vice-President Michel Verger. Some days later the Association of Moruroa and Tatoo was formed in Polynesia with the objective of defending Polynesian workers.

Since its inauguration the membership of AVEN has soared with nearly 1000 members in 2002, over 3000 by the end of 2005 and nearly 6000 today. This rapid increase in numbers has mostly been down to the French regional and national press who immediately took up the cause of the veterans and have never abandoned it since, as well as to the support of politicians who from 2002 onwards have reacted to the health effects of the nuclear tests.

As a result, between 2002 and 2008, eighteen draft laws were proposed

across the political spectrum to the French Parliament until finally, under some pressure, the government produced its own proposal which was voted in 2009 and enacted on 5th January 2010. This new law makes provision for the setting up of an Indemnity Committee (CIVEN) composed of doctors and scientists chosen by government to examine applications for financial compensation using the following criteria: “This committee examines whether the conditions for compensation (time, date and the list of qualifying illnesses) are met. If these conditions are met, the veteran will be presumed to qualify for compensation without further evidence of cause being required, unless the degree of risk attributable to (the) nuclear tests can be considered negligible�.

Relying on this text and on a erudite piece of American software devised in 1986 which aims to calculate the risk to which a population would be exposed in the event of a civil nuclear accident, coupled with a complicated set of calculations incomprehensible even to specialists, the CIVEN has rejected 98% of applications for compensation. Fighting against these results, which have been denounced

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by the associations in the follow-up committee (a committee set up by virtue of the Law and to which AVEN belongs), is now our priority objective, with the aim of changing the terms of the Law. For this reason AVEN has met with the five main candidates for the 2012 presidential elections and is campaigning and providing information to all members of the National Assembly standing in the parliamentary elections. An open letter has also been sent via the French Press. In September 2012, at the time of the vote of the French national budget for 2013, AVEN will be drafting amendments to the law for presentation to Parliament by its political allies to try to remedy the present injustices.

AVEN now has almost 6000 members and belongs of the National Office of Veterans, which brings to us the support of more than 300,00 members of their many associations. AVEN has also made a request to the United Nations for registration as an international non-governmental body.

Parallel to these activities, AVEN created an independent watchdog organisation led by Dr Valaxt tasked with the pursuit of studies on the health of the veterans. Dr Valaxt had begun these studies through a health questionnaire addressed to all members of AVEN, and this continued until 2008 when unfortunately the work had to be interrupted when he

became seriously ill with lymphoma.

He died on 22nd January 2009. This considerable effort was also marred by a suspicion of partisanship since only AVEN members could participate.

This is why we have now set up an independent organisation (OBSIVEN) and have widened participation in the new study by sending the questionnaire out to all associations for former military personnel, gendarmes and navy personnel who have members who were involved in the nuclear tests but may not be members of AVEN. The study will be published in medical and scientific reviews and will be capable of providing support for claims to an extension of the list of illnesses. It will also contribute to the calculation of risk probabilities for civil as well as for military nuclear accidents.

The idea of setting up this watchdog organisation was first mooted at a conference in Algiers in February 2010 with an ambition to internationalise the health problems borne by veterans from all the countries that have undertaken nuclear tests.

This is why I invite you to join this movement so that the experience of both our organisations work to mutual advantage. There is no such thing as British veterans or French veterans, nor veterans of other single nations, there are simply international victims of nuclear tests. It is now time for us to unite for justice to be done.

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The Lord Mayor’s Show 2013 Project 13 Why take part in the Lord Mayor’s Show?

To give the BNTVA greater exposure to the public at large and to educate the public regarding the legacy of the British Nuclear Tests programme.

Who will see us?

Approximately Half a million line the streets along the route and a worldwide audience through the BBC TV Broadcast. The UK audience is around 2 million and world wide of many millions. The TV programme on the day is broadcast live and lasts 90 minutes.

How much will it cost?

The total projected amount is £12000 which includes the entrance fee and the cost of setting up the vehicle to be used. It is hoped that the use of a 1950’s vintage double decker bus will be possible.

Project 13 is a target for the BNTVA to work towards.

Let’s all pull together to get the BNTVA on the national map.

Every little will help, at the AGM a donation of £500.00 was given by one member to start the fund raising off.

What can you do? Coffee morning, tea party, run a mile, anything to raise the funds we need for this great project.

The trustees are taking steps to secure sponsorship for some of the cost but this may not be possible.

We have 15 months to raise the funds that is only £800.00 per month.

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Tom Feeley R.A.F. Regiment. 1954-1966.

Having just recently received the latest edition of the “Campaign” I had great delight in reading the story of John Phillips re Maralinga circa 1964. It certainly brought back many happy memories. My tale relates to the “Vixen ‘B’ Trails Jan 1963- May 1963.

In the middle 1962 I had just finished my course at Winterbourne Gunner (NBC Instructor) & went back to my unit RAF St Mawgan, Fire Crew.

Around about Oct/Nov time on Station Standing Orders was an article relating to volunteers to take part in the “above Ground Tests” at Maralinga.

So thinking that I would put my new found skills to work I put my name forward, never actually thinking I would get picked! The next thing I knew was that I received information that I had been selected & that I would be “transferred” to civvy status as I, along with others were to report to Aldermaston (AWRE) for training.

After two weeks of the training Gamma/Beta etc & watching the “shots” being made, we were considered ready to “go”, such a pity as the accommodation etc at Aldermaston was second to none so back to reality plus the fact that it was one of the worst winters 1962.

On the training I became friends with another RAF Regiment guy, Sgt Wallly Barnes, he was station at RAF Mount Batten down near Plymouth. I also linked up with another Senior NCO, Flt Sgt Harry Wilkes, Harry & I had first met up in Germany way back in 1957.

So Wally & me both were to travel back down to our units together, as I have said 1962 was a very bad winter & so it turned out that the snow had caused havoc down the West Country, we got as far a Newton Abbot & the train stopped, to go no further & so there we were snow bound on the station platform all “waiting rooms” locked up & no one available to open them (snow) & were told that hopefully by the next morning someone would get through ( a train, we hoped) & we could get some warmth, luckily we were dressed in full uniform & had on our greatcoats which gave us some warmth.

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There were 48 us all told, half were Health Physics the other half Decontamination team. The travel arrangements were half to fly BOAC via the States & the other half to fly Dan Air via all points south!!

The “draw” was made prior to us leaving Aldermaston for which journey we would take plus all details for our travel arrangements. I ended up with the Dan Air “gang” & as it turned out a good old “gang “ it was, we played cards most to the flight as it was nearly always night flights.

So come January 1962 we reported to Standstead airport, ready for our “jolly”. Then the marathon trip started, Libya 24hr stop over, then on to Aden, a refuelling stop, then Ceylon as was, what a beautiful place that was, another 24hr stop over.

Next stop Singapore, another eye opener & introduced to Tiger beer, one of the guys with us had just done a tour out there & “warned us of the perils” of Tiger, again another 24hr stop over. Next part of the trip was into Darwin, Australia, there we experienced the humidity that we would have to become used to!! The the flight across country watching the vast area which all seemed to be desert or scrub. Then came Adelaide, we were to be there for three days (flights up country to Maralinga were regulated).

The only thing wrong was that the hotel they put us up in turned out to be a “dry one” as at that time different states had different drinking laws (I think it was 6 till 6 in Adelaide) but this hotel had no drinking license at all!! The first guy I spoke to, the lift attendant turns out that he came from “Rochdale”, 10,000 miles & the first person to speak to was from the UK!! Obviously we found a bar that was open & we “hit it” just prior to the “happy hour” when all the workers streamed in to catch the last hours or so drinking time, we nearly got caught in the stampede!! Needless to say we soon learnt about the RSL!!

We were up country for about 5 months & many a story can come out of that. We did manage a couple of trips out when we were on R & R, Ayers Rock & Alice Springs. Along the Ayer Highway, which in those days was not a highway as we knew them here in the UK, that was my first taste of “Road Trains” covered in a cloud of Red Dust. All our driver training & survival was done by Australian Bush Rangers & when we started work out in the site (desert) we knew why.

Happy Days.

Tom Feeley Membership Number 2325.

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BNTVA Contact Details

Registered Charity Number 1131134

This is the only correspondence address and telephone number for the Association.

BNTVA BM 5657 LONDON WC1N 3XX

24 Hour Call Back Service

0208 144 3080

National Chairman Nigel Heaps Email chairman@bntva.com Skype: nigel.heaps Tel: 0780 7268016 Blackberry message ID 25DFA01C

National Vice Chairman Jeff Liddiatt

Chaplain The Very Revd Nicholas Frayling BA, LLD Dean of Chichester Email dean@chichestercatherdral.org.uk

London Events Organiser & Trustee Don James

Email vice-chairman@bntva.com Tel: 0780 7268041 Blackberry message ID 25F9CC08

Trustee Ian Greenhalgh LLB Email ian.greenhalgh@greenhalghs.net

Archive Administrator & Trustee Doug Hern Email hernie36@gmail.com

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Become a Trustee

– Have you got what we need?

If you feel you wish to become a trustee and have something to offer the BNTVA then please request an application package from the Chairman, Nigel Heaps.

All applications will be considered fully and fairly by the Board of Trustees.

Please remember that in 2013 all the trustees appointed when the Association became Charity will step down. Some of these trustees will be retiring from the board permanently. The time is NOW for new trustees to step forward so, if you are interested or you think you know someone who would make a good trustee please contact the Chairman.

NEW Trustee Lisa Bainbridge

New Trustee Ian Hall

NEW Trustee Stephen Evans

New Trustee Steve Bexon Email editor@bntva.com

New Trustee Fred Stellard

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Remembering Mavis What a dreadful week for the BNTVA with the loss of two stalwart members of our association. First with the sad death of Mavis Gardner on 4.4.2012 and then 3 days later the death of Derek Heaps, both members of long standing, but I have been asked to give my memories of Mavis.

The first time I met Mavis was in 1984 when my late husband and I joined the BNTVA. She had been widowed then for 6 years. Her husband had been R.S.M. in R.E.M.E. and was on the clean-up operations on Christmas Island. She had many a tale to tell of their exploits all over the world.

It was after my husband John died in 1992 that Mavis took me under her wing and supported and advised me of my benefits etc, and how she came to be widow’s representative on the national committee.

Whenever she was advised of the death of a veteran she would send a condolence card from the association and/or ring his widow and offer her advice on pension claims for example.

Many would ring her back to say whether they were successful or not but to thank her for pointing them in the right direction that they knew nothing about. She believed it only right that women who had lost their husbands because of their service in the forces should be entitled to a pension.

Mavis was at one time secretary of the war widows association in Leicester and on a couple of occasions I accompanied her on the stage at the de Montfort hall festival of remembrance when she placed a wreath for the war widows.

Not only did Mavis advise widows but she supported the Association in other ways. Going Strasbourg to the court of human rights in 1997 on an organised coach trip, travelling to Blackpool A.G.M. many many times – staying in station road within walking distance to the horseshoe bar.

Attending the Christmas Island reunions in Sand Bay Weston-superMare every 2 years...I remember one year there was a power failure and we had to find our way back to our chalet in pitch darkness. The only light we had was a tiny torch on Mavis’s key ring and knowing I had a powerful torch in my car, we went along to the car park shining this tiny light onto car number plates looking for my car to get the bigger torch

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We went to Remembrance Day in London on one occasion staying at the Salvation Army hotel, but the hours of standing was too much for us. We also went to the houses of parliament to hear debates on our behalf and more recently visits to the National Arboretum at Alrewas.

For many years Mavis and I have run the East Midlands branch of the Association, with quarterly meetings and we also organised a New Year lunch every January.

Mavis and I have given quite a few interviews on both radio and T.V. over the years and until the past year or so she and I would place our poppy wreath on our memorial stone in

Victoria Park in Leicester (which I continue to do).

As well as our exploits with the Association Mavis and I were great friends we went on holidays together to Spain, Scotland and Sandown I.o.W. We would ring each other up most weeks or whenever we had a snippet of news. I know, I along with many others will miss her determination and resoluteness in having things right.

Rest in peace now my good friend, I along with many others will miss you greatly.

Marilyn Hall

Thank you from Valerie Heaps For those members who do not know me, my name is Valerie Heaps, wife of the late Derek Heaps, your past Vice Chairman.

I would like to thank the standard bearers Don and Ron who travelled from each end of the country to make his funeral special.

I just want the chance to say thankyou for all the support and the beautiful cards, lovely letters and the phone calls I received on his passing on April 7th.

The Very Reverend Nicholas Frayling our Chaplain, who said such nice things about Derek at our AGM in Bournemouth.

We have many true friends in the association and I shall not forget your kindness.

I left very proud of Derek and am proud to have been his wife.

God bless you all, Valerie.

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Trevor Butler It is with regret that the trustees announce the resignation through ill health of Trevor Butler.

Trevor has been a long standing member of the management team of the BNTVA, both as a member of the old Executive Committee and as a trustee when the BNTVA became a Registered Charity.

Trevor took over the shop after the death of Ken Roberts.

Starting from scratch, with little information, Trevor built the shop up to a substantial turnover with a wide range of goods available. He attended outside events as well as BNTVA events, to sell goods and promote the BNTVA. Without the unfailing support of his wife Doris, none of this would have been possible.

We wish Trevor an improvement in his health and all the best in the future.

Jeff Liddiatt

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Getting Greener Saving Money Our greatest item of expenditure is this magazine; we spend around £13,000 a year on printing and postage. This equates to almost all our membership subscription income leaving us with a very small amount to actually do the work needed to take the Association forward.

This is clearly not a sustainable position and the Board of Trustees are desperate to reduce these costs.

This has to be balanced against the fact that this magazine is an essential connection with our members, in fact for many members, it is the only contact they have with the Association.

We have tried a number of measures in the past; reducing the number of pages and reducing the number of issues.

The result of this was a falling in the quality of the connection with members and we reversed the changes.

The cost of overseas postage is very high and whilst some of our overseas members make additional donations to cover the postage costs to them the majority do not and it is against this backdrop we are reviewing the overseas membership fees to offset the additional postage costs. There are realistically only two options open to us to reduce the costs.

Firstly we can look at ‘Group Mailings’ If members who meet in Branches

would opt to have their copies of the magazine delivered to one point in the branch and distribute them to their colleagues from there we could achieve a notable saving.

The other option has the potential to drastically reduce not just the postage costs but also the printing bill....

On-Line Distribution – If every member who is able to access the magazine from our website bntva.com or is able to read it as a pdf file sent to their email opted not to have a hard copy printed and posted to them we would save thousands of pounds every year.

That’s thousands of pounds we can use for enhancing the wellbeing and recognition of our Veterans and doing our little bit for the environment too.

All new members will be asked to elect how they receive their copy of the magazine on the application form, but it is to you the current members we ask “Could you access the magazine online?” if the answer is yes and you want to help us to spend on things that really matter and can make a real difference to our Veterans then please send an email to editor@bntva.com asking to be placed on the on-line distribution list.

If you are not comfortable with the internet do not worry we will continue to send your magazine via the post.

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Roger Fleming BNTVA No. 2329 One often reads about the ailments incurred by veterans because of exposure to radiation while at Christmas Island. What you don’t read about are veterans complaining of suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as a result of contracting dysentery while on the island.

I was a regular Senior Aircraftman in the RAF serving as a telegraphist and living in a tent with three other telegraphists at the Main Camp.

Because of the huge flies that hovered over the mess tent that descended on our meal plates and also hovered over the tents at the Main Camp, a crop sprayer was shipped out and when the telegraphists were sleeping off night duty, with the sides of the tent rolled up because of the heat, we’d be woken up spluttering when the crop sprayer flew over the lines spraying DDT which filled our tents.

Many of us were admitted to the hospital, which was a large tent, suffering from dysentery and fed with what we called “liquid cement”.

This was probably kaolin and morphine.

The engineers built concrete hard stands outside the hospital tent with about a dozen elsan toilets on them and hanging from the frames over each cubicle was a tilley lamp. This was because we would have to sit on the toilets all night, usually reading, as it was impossible to control oneself.

What ever we were given to eat just went straight through as liquid.

When I left the RAF in 1960 I was sent to the Middlesex Hospital in central London where I lived, suffering from stomach problems. I was put through a number of exploratory tests and was diagnosed with IBS as a result of having contracted dysentery on Christmas Island. I was told I was left with a weak stomach and was advised to eat just plain food and that I’d have the complaint for the rest of my life. At the age of 74 I still have IBS which can be set off with various foods, drinks and fruit. I have medication for it by my GP but with the unfortunate side effects that if I curb the need to visit the loo three or four times each morning, the next day I can’t go and am left with a nasty headache.

Something entirely different: I was friendly with two RAF colleagues on the island, one an operating theatre technician and the other a dental technician. The dental technician, J/Tech. Yarnell, used to sit in a tent with a large mixing bowl making up dentures. I was sent out to the Royal Navy ship, HMS Narvik, anchored at the Port Camp, where there was a dental surgery on board.

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Two of my front teeth which had broken were extracted. I was then fitted with a set of dentures made up by my friend in his tent which made me look like Bugs Bunny, with two large white teeth at the front. As soon as I got home to the UK I went to a private dentist and had a plate made up which had off-white smaller teeth and of an irregular shape which looked more natural.

had to wade out and pull the offending boats in!

I was given three months leave but soon got bored, so I got a job at Regents Park in London working on the boating lake shouting “Come in number three” or words to that effect, when their time ran out, and if they didn’t come in I

I was interested to see the picture of the aircraft carrier, HMS Warrior, in the last magazine, as I was also sent on a holiday break to Hawaii on it as we had no leave from Christmas Island.

At the end of my three months leave I was giving a choice of stations I could be posted to, so I chose RAF Uxbridge where I could ride home between duties on a Royal Enfield 125 moped that I’d bought from a colleague who was being posted overseas.

Royal Engineers Museum Coldwar Exhibition A V2 Rocket, recently acquired by REMLA, has successfully moved from the site it has been at for over forty years and is now being carefully strengthened and restored before coming back into the museum later this year.

We are working to conserve this, interpret it and install it in the courtyard of the museum

by September this year. A very exciting project.

The interpretation of this is going to look at the Cold War, life in Germany, what the Royal Engineers were doing in Germany and also the work done at Christmas Island.

If you or any of the group have any stories, objects, archives or anything else we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch if this is something of interest to you.

Best Wishes Catherine Byrne, Deputy Curator (Access, Interpretation, Development) Royal Engineers Museum Library & Archive Brompton Barracks, Chatham, Kent ME4 4UG 01634 822221 www.remuseum.org.uk

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Friends of Bournemouth Women’s Refuge (charity number 1139715) At this years AGM and conference we were pleased to host a speaker from the Mayors Charity Fund, Friends of Bournmouth Womens’ Refuge. This year they have received in excess of £5000 from the Mayors Charity fund, aided by the BNTVA running a Tombola and donations at the AGM and conference. Below are details of what the charity does and tries to achieve.

We provide financial support and other assistance to families, who have suffered and are still suffering the effects of domestic violence and abuse.

The women and children often arrive at the Refuge with nothing. Our aim is to supply welcome packs containing the basics such as toothpaste, toothbrushes and toiletries as well as clothes and supermarket vouchers for food and to try to make their lives as comfortable as is possible under the circumstances by providing bedding, bedlinen and towels as well as crockery, cutlery, etc.

We are conscious that the children, who have witnessed or even suffered the violence and abuse, need to reclaim their childhood and look to providing materials and toys for children’s activities within the Refuge and its grounds, outings, parties and other leisure activities.

Wherever possible, we would like to provide the funding to give the women the opportunity to build up their confidence and self-esteem so that they are able to leave the safety of Refuge and start a new life with their children, free from violence and abuse.

CAMPAIGN Summer 2012 | 25

Artman - Gary Bennett During the 1980’s I was a member of 39 Heavy Regiment RA and the Royal Irish Regiment, which was a great honour for me and a service that I am proud of to this day.

I am currently studying at the Isle of Man College and I am in my 3rd year of Fine Art BA. The art department there has been inspiring and the perfect guide for me to achieve my burning desire to portray and translate my experiences in conflict through fine art showing the sensitivity of real life and the reality of life during war not in an immediate way but in a subtle powerful way.

As my inspiration is mostly from memories I find writing about my experiences is an excellent way to help develop drawings, abstracting the images enables me to portray these feelings in a way that conveys a powerful message of the effects on personnel serving in extreme working conditions.

I have been very inspired by the stories written by soldiers in your magazine, if my images can do the same for other soldiers I will be immensely satisfied with my art works.

Patrol Resting

Angel and the Fallen

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any feedback on my work or require further information.

Gary Bennett Mobile 07624 431082 Email artman@manx.net

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Going Home Below shows a passenger list for a flight between the mainland and Hawaii aboard the “Hana Mui�. Opposite is a humorous take on leaving service and returning home.

If you have any other memorobilia or items like these please let us know.

CAMPAIGN Summer 2012 | 27

28 | CAMPAIGN Spring 2012

A Poem by Bryan Davies

Wearing our badges with pride

‘ANTLER 57’ Run dingo r un Before you burn Tell the roo to run too Fly eagles fly Tell the budgies to fly too Run lizard run Tell the snake and the skorpion too Before becoming green glass Ten million black flies go, go, go Burn eucalyptus burn Give up your oil Feel the quiet before the blast The wall of silence Precursor to a troubled night Wait for the whitest light Ask god to forgive The radiation fast Run dingo run Burn, burn, burn Bryan Davies 2012

My grand-daughter Hannah, aged 6 at the time, and her little friend were playing together. Hannah was wearing a poppy and our NAVAD forget-me-not badge, when her friend asked why she was wearing them. Her reply was “The poppy was to remember servicemen who had died in the wars”. What about the other badges her friend asked?

“I wear that because some men sent my grandad a long way away where he saw some bombs explode and they hurt my granddad. I look after my granddad and I wear the badge to remind me.

Trevor Butler

CAMPAIGN Spring 2012 | 29

BNTVA Shop Window Band 1 items For Get Me Not Lapel Badge NEW ITEM Car Badge Blazer Badge BNTVA Lapel Badge Cuff Links Key Fob Tie Clip Trolley Token Bookmark Grapple Tie BNTVA Tie woven BNTVA Tie printed

£3.00 £3.00 £12.00 £2.50 £5.00 £2.00 £3.00 £1.00 £3.00 £9.50 £10.00 £7.50

Band 2 Items Caps Baseball Scarves Fleece Scarves Silk Shirts Small to XXXL

£11.00 £12.00 £13.00 £12.50

Band 3 Item Fleece Small to XXXL Mugs NAVAD & BNTVA

£22.00 £6.50

Band 4 Item Tankard Glass

£20.00

ALL PRICES PLUS POST AND PACKING Band 1 add £1.00 Band 2 add £3.00 Band 3 add £4.00 Band 4 add £5.00

BNTVA BM 5657 London WC1N 3XX

ONLIN

E S H O P C OMING

S

OON CHECK NEW FOR DE SDESK TAILS

30 | CAMPAIGN Summer 2012

Ways to pay your annual BNTVA membership subscription Set out below are the methods you can use to pay your membership subscription, due 1st of April each year.

By standing order using the personalised standing order form sent out with the Winter Edition of the magazine.

By using the BACS system take your cheque or cash into any HSBC branch make out the paying in slip with the following details: HSBC Bank plc 13 Parliament Street York YO1 8XS Sort code: 40-47-31 Account number: 64259351 Account name: British Nuclear Test Veterans Association Amount: ÂŁ15.00

By using your own Internet Banking account make the payment using the details below left.

PayPal payment to: secretary@bntva.com

If you are unable to use any above ways to pay, CHEQUES made out to the BNTVA only, can be sent to the central address.

BNTVA BM 5657 London WC1N 3XX

Have we got your correct address details?

Can you please check that your correct address and postcode is shown on mailing address labels on any communications that we send to you? If we have the incorrect address (especially postcode) please contact us and let us know the correct details. See the address above for the Association’s contact details.

CAMPAIGN Summer 2012 | 31

Campaign magazine is published by the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.

Editor: Steve Bexon.

Next issue copy Deadline 30th September 2012.

All contributions for the magazine should be sent to the London address or emailed to editor@bntva.com BNTVA is not an anti-nuclear or an anti-war association. All opinions,views and quotations do not represent official BNTVA policy and are the sole responsibility of the writer.

Photographs and images – Š Copyright of owner acknowledged.

Campaign cannot guarantee total accuracy for any reproduction of letters / articles / transcripts.

BNTVA is a Registered Charity Reg. No 1131134 supporting past and present UK Nuclear Test Combined Service Veterans and their families.

Royal British Legion Education Pack 2012-11-22 Copies of the 2012 RBL Education Pack are available.

Please send your request for copies to the central address. Written request only will be actioned.

This important medal is a joint commission between the Australian and British Nuclear Veterans Associations providing medallic recognition to veterans who served in nuclear test site locations and supporting bases in Australia and the Pacific between 1952 and 1967.

Next of kin or direct descendants can also apply.

The obverse of the medal depicts the nuclear symbol surrounded by the words 'British Nuclear Weapons Tests in Australia & Pacific' and the reverse dramatically features a detonation cloud and the words 'For Service in Radioactive Areas 1952-1967'. The ribbon is white on the edges representing the blinding white flash that comes before the fireball and then subsides to the fireball which has the reddish fire in the centre and becomes the familiar mushroom shape.

An easy care 100% polyester navy blue tie has been tastefully designed with stripes matching the ribbon colours and bears an authenticating label on the reverse.

For further information and/or an application form contact Award Productions Ltd, (Dept. NNL) PO Box 300, Shrewsbury SY5 6WP, U.K. Tel: 01952 510053 Fax: 01952 510765 E-mail: award@crown-lane.co.uk

The Australian Nuclear Veterans Association and the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association are the beneficiaries of this project.

www.awardmedals.com

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