September 1994

BNTVA

SEPTEMBER edition

MAGAZINE

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These walkers proved to be in a class of their own when they went ■ on a Three Peaks sponsored walk. Back row: Dave Tillotson, Paul Flanagan, Dave Donoghue, and Ian Donoghue. Front row: Ian Myscon, Aron Walton and Mat Partis.

FULL STORY PAGE 5.

WHAT A SHOCK! The day Ron sat down to have a puff and sat on top of an H-Bomb APPER Ron Gambles found a quiet place to have a smoke - and accidentally sat on one of Britain's H-Bombs while he enjoyed a ciggle.'

When the mistake was discovered his backside was tested with a geiger counter to check if he had picked up radioactivity.

Ron was on Christmas Island In the Pacific as a 21 year old National Serviceman from January to November 1957, attached to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment (AWRE), the scientists conducting Britain’s nuclear tests.

During that time, according to official records, Britain exploded four H-bombs In the Grapple series - three at Malden Island, 400 miles away, and one, Grapple X, off Christmas Island, on November 8.

Ron was with the Royal Engineers, attached to the Field Engineering Regiment.

His Job was to man and service the air conditioning equipment which kept the bombs cool while they were being assembled in a special building within the AWRE compound.

Otherwise the electrics would have gone haywire in the Island's fierce heat and humidity.

According to Ron, the H-bombs came in three sections each about six feet in diameter. The longest was the middle section, about 18 feet, with a conical nose section six feet long and a tail section measuring about ten feet.

He shared the pre-fabricated alumini­ um assembly building, one of the few permanent structures on the island, with the AWRE technicians.

The building was divided roughly In half, one for the bomb itself and the other, the plant room, for housing the air conditioning In which he and a col­ league worked.

They were divided only by a thin alu­ minium wall although the bomb's war­ head must have been highly radioac-

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five. (A hydrogen bomb requires an atomic bomb to trigger off Its immense explosive power).

"Talking to technicians, they were quite surprised It went off at all. They kept their fingers crossed that the bomb would work," Ron recalled.

"We were a bit scared It would be dropped too low and cause a tidal wave which would have swamped the island as It was so low lying.

"After the first bomb was exploded, the novelty had worn off for me. One colleague and I went outside the plant room for a smoke. There was a tiny patch of shade at the side of the building.

"In it was a trolley covered in canvas.

We sat on it for a smoke, our legs dangling over the side.

"One of the technicians came out and sal 'I would not sit there because the Air Vice-Marshall (W E Culton, the military Commander) is wandering around. If he sees you sitting on the bomb....'.

Surprised, Ron and his pal lifted the canvas before the technician could stop them and saw what proved to be the middle section, a mass of "hydraulics and wiring".

The men ran a geiger counter over the two lads backsides and, according to Ron, pronounced them safe.

"I began to wonder at the sanity of It all, this business about sitting on the bomb," said Ron at the time. "Any set up that could allow that to happen - It was a Heath-Robinson affair."

The British success In developing and exploding the bomb without American help was a great achievement, yet It Included a large measure of what Ron called "string and sticky tape".

For Instance, the bomb Just fitted Into the bomb bay of the Valiant bomber used to drop It and had to be air condi­ tioned prior to take- off. Cold air was blown from six refrigeration units down a canvas tube, held In place In the bomb bay by a sheet of plywood.

How Britain actually dropped the

bomb didn't give Ron much confidence either. Talking to RAF ground crew, he learned the Valiant was not fast enough. When dropped a bomb tends to follow the plane.

'The only way to get out of range of the explosion was for the pilot to do a right turn as soon as the bomb was released. Even then, it was not fast enough so they had to put the plane's nose down to pick up speed," added Ron. They calculated this had to be no more than three degrees. Any more and the plane would still be within range. They told me the pilot kept his fingers crossed."

Ron also recalls the Grapple X explo­ sion on November 8,1957: "We were lined up in ranks on the shore:" he said. 'The blast only blew over one or two men in each row, but it was severe enough to stop my generators."

His evidence suggests strongly that the approach to radioactivity on Christmas Island was slap-happy.

Despite working in extremely close proximity to he bomb, he was never checked for radiation apart from that one incident Ron's health has not been good. He has had an operation for a duodenal ulcer and has suffered from aches and pains in his legs - a complaint common amongst the men on Christmas Island.

Previously good eyesight has deterio­ rated.

Ron does not know whether to draw any conclusions between the bomb and his health, but he says: "When I flew from Christmas island on demob, I thought that if anything should turn up in later years It would be very hard to prove the bomb had anything to do with It"

This is a copy of an article on Ron Gambles printed in the Sheffield Star in 1985. His family are making an appeal for help which can be found on the Notice Board page.

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ABOVE: John Leuchars with his friend Moantau and two of his grand-children, Tretia and Teia.

Christmas Island: IVow you can hear the laughter again CHRISTMAS ISLAND - Island of Dreams. By: John G Leuchars.

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HRISTMAS ISLAND, Nuclear Test site of the Fifties, lives on. Today it is a colourful throng of laughter and bliss.

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In early March, friends from my Nuclear test days on Christmas island invited me down. So I was delighted to return as guest of the Islanders to the bush settlement of Tabakeauea Village.

Following an overnight stay in Honolulu, I boarded Air N'auru's once a week flight to Christmas island and chose my own seat.

The scheduled three hour flight left half empty. Consumer goods for the Island occu­ pied the empty spaces.

On the Island's approach I sat in rapture and watched the palms of 38 years ago rush to meet me.

Too often I had returned to places hoping to recapture the thrill of yesteryear, only to be disillusioned by change. What emotional upheaval awaited this journey’s end?

Happily, this time, I was not disappointed.

It was more than I had dared hope for. A population explosion has taken place though.

From a middling 240 Gilbertese living at London Village in the mid-fifties, it has rock­ eted to over 2000 I-Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas), as the people are now called since their Independence on 12th July, 1979.

Today the Island has four occupied villages - London, Tabakeauea, Banana and Poland.

London Village, with its population of 1066, houses the administrative offices, the Ronton Medical Centre, a mini-hotel and the Hearts

Bar. The Tank Farm, by the Lagoon, still stands, unused and rusting now, but a shin­ ing example to Royal Engineers workman­ ship.

Tabakeauea Village is a sprawl of 74 house­ holds, one or two meagrely stocked stores, two Maneabas (meeting places), a medical centre who’s appaling condition defies description, and a population of 740.

It thrives in the jungle two miles from London and it also houses the home of my friend Moantau and his large family. Banana and Poland are similar villages with descend­ ing populations.

First hint of the villagers gracious hospitali­ ty was to arrive in Tabakeauea and discover they had built a small thatched roofed abode on stilts for my usage. But that is the Islanders way - generous and caring to a fault Their one failing is the amount of food they expect one to eat. Each meal resembles a banquet The burden of work is still left to the women, cooking and washing with the primi­ tive methods of a by-gone era. It never failed to intrigue watching them push a half burned coconut husk back under the cooking pot with their bare feet Of course, the men do their fishing and reli­ giously climb the coconut trees each dawn and evening for the tottie (the local hooch).

When first in their company I was bemused by their constant giggling. Three days later I was giggling in tune with them. I have a notion they marinate their food and drink with the tottie though I never asked nor for that matter complained.

Their incessant smoking habit is beyond belief too. Not the regular sized cigarettes either, but eight inch long one's made with coarse black tobacco rolled in brown paper stripped from the bark of local trees.

Of the many hours I spent in the company

of the Island's interesting doctor, the local's health was never deeply discussed. But I do know that a most detailed medical record of the entire population is being compiled by the medics.

Also the lack of medical supplies is pathetic and a severe eye complaint is widespread on the Island. But to the betterment of the latter, kindness by England's North West people enabled me to despatch 1000 pairs of eye glasses down. They were gratefully received.

On the subject of appeals, the Island's Governor realised his ambition to start a library on the island, but lack of cash-flow' deemed his dream unsurmountable.

However, ask and thou shalt receive.

Bury District Libraries have graciously donated 2000 books, lending cards and rele­ vant papers required for the opening of Christmas Island's first library. The ship­ ment will soon be winging its way to the Pacific. At times I wonder though if the IKiribati could perhaps teach us more than our books may teach them.

Lastly, during my stay a unique plan was conceived as to the means of generating some desperately required revenue. Anyone wish­ ing to have part of this sun-kissed Island per­ manently dedicated to them can do so by hav­ ing a name of their choice beautifully carved on a palm tree.

A photograph and location of the tree will be forwarded to the recipients or perhaps some may prefer a coconut with their name and address painted on the outer shell and posted from Christinas Island. A modest fee of £10 will cover either preference and entire fees go to the Islanders.

One thing the I-Kiribati have in abundance is an infectious happiness and it had me departing Christmas Island wiser and wealthier in mind than when I arrived.

DRUID TILLOTSON talks about the Three Peaks walk

At last, my chance to do some good for the Association I

FIRST read about the Three Peaks Walk through all the sponsor­ ship slips Included In the BNTVA magazines.

1 have always felt a bit guilty at net participating in any BIN TV A activities as mast meetings in the North Yorkshire and Humberside branch are held at Hull 90 miles away.

Now the BNTVA were actual­ ly earning inta my area and 1 was given my chance ta do something far them at last, first of all my credentials far partiepatingr-1 had scaled the highest paint af Christmas Island within the first week af my arrival (generally reck­ oned ta be 11 feet above sea level somewhere near the Past office); I had actually done the Three Peaks walk in my youth. So 1 decided ta ask if 1 might take part in the BINT V A sponsored walk.

1 was told that the actual walking was not ta be done my veterans as 1 had anticipated, but by a group af young, lithe and viriles from Birmingham and Hull.

1 therefore saw I could be a burden ta them, slowing them dawn or even having ta be res­ cued by them so 1 pleaded ta da just one af the three.

1 was accepted far Whernside, Yorkshire's highest peak (now

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David Tillotson from Skipton, North Yorkshire, who served on Christmas Island from 1957-58, took part in the recent Three Peaks sponsored walk and said the organisation was marvellous by the back-up team and this included the ladies who provided cooked meals at all appropriate pit stops and the drivers who fer­ ried their respective participants from Hull and Birmingham and into the Dales. Here he tells of what it was like to take part in an event he last competed in as a youth. that others have been pinched and put into Cumbria), the mid­ dle one of the three.

Arrangements were made for me to meet the walkers at Ribblehead where they were already 10 miles from the start and with one peak (Pea-yGhent) under their belts.

There were clear skies and a slight breeze when we set off for Ribblehead at !L45am and I reflected on the fact that the real walkers had already been striding out for two and a half hours.

At Ohm I arrived at a layby at Ribblehead (Ifs nearly all layby at Ribblehead because much of it is unfenced) and although I had never met Sue Lyons or any of the other organisers or walkers, they were Instantly reeogniseable.

I was most impressed to see three portable stoves in opera­ tion and the ladles were dish­ ing out huge, full breakfasts of bacon, egg, sausage and toma­ mtoes or porridge to the bled walkers still looking

remarkably fresh (we gat nothing af such goad quality an Christmas Island).

I presented myself complete with well polished boats, a rucksack af emergency rattans and wearing my green jungle hat from Christrmas island, now used mostly far decorating.

I discovered there were two groups af walkers, one which setoff at just turned six now at Ribblehead, and the other which set off from Horton in Ribblesdale an hour and a half later with the excuse that their landlady wouldn't let them up before 7.30am.

I never saw this second group I hope you were successful lads.

So, pleased to be with the Vanguard or A Team, I set off with the most delightful set of companions you could wish to walk with, full of good humour and quick quips in their Brummie or East Yorkshire accents.

Pity I couldn't keep up with

Chairmans report TT is very disappointing that there has been a deafening silence from all quarters since the NRPB second analysis of December 9 I last year. You will recall in my response to the study, our figures were higher for Leukemia and Myeloma and this was promiJ-nent in my letter to the NRPB, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Defence. To this date not one of these has asked for our figures which tells the truth. In a letter to one of our widows the last paragraph states, and I quote: "I can assure you that the British Government will consider sympathetically, claims for compensation- The reason that none has been met is that not a single case of death or disease from radiation has even been shown to have resulted from participation in the British atmospheric test programme."

As this quote is related to the Pacific tests in particular, I have now written to Mr K W Barber, Claims Officer, to demand an urgent meeting with him so I can provide three cases proving him completely wrong. Other factors that have emerged over the past few years are the claims from other servicemen who served in the UK during and after bomb tests, especially at RAF bases where planes (Canberra's and Vulcan Bombers) returned.

These aircraft were involved in cloud-sampling (for radio activity) and were still highly contaminated on return to the UK and other foreign bases. The ex-servicemen who claim to have been affected state that that on their duties they were not warned about the dangers and not issued with any monitoring devices. We seem to have heard this before. Also stores and equipment from the test sites were brought back to this country (again stopping at foreign ports and bases).

British servicemen who served at Hiroshima and Nagasaki contracted radiation linked diseases and died in later years. These are the hidden statistics in this country. It's no wonder that when the second analysis was drawn up, the MoD could pick up Leukemia and Myeloma cases at will in the control group. If this Association had not been formed in 1983, we would have been included in the National Statistics to suit certain industries in this country.

I would like you to read the following article which is a testimony from Peter Newby, ex-RN and one of the first victims of Hiroshima. This is also a tribute to Iris Newby, who contacted me in 1991 and with our help she is now in receipt of a War Widows Pension granted in 1992. This is Peter Newby's story: "We are now at Kure, South Japan, about two days trip south of Tokyo. It is a big ex-Jap naval base and used to be one of their largest. We are in company with another destroyer, HMS Ullyses and an Aussie cruiser, HMAS Hobart. We arrived yesterday and stay for a few days returning to Yokohama on 7th January.

"This place is very near Hiroshima and today the American authorities ran a special train to take a hundred of us on the 10 mile journey to Hiroshima to see the atomic bomb damage. I went along too and spent this afternoon looking over the place. The train was a good one with first class carriages. On the way I saw rice fields and neatly laid out villages. We arrived at Hiroshima about lpm. Part of the station still remains so we could ride right there.

"Stepping from the train is like entering a strange new world where life does not exist - it’s rather creepy. For about 10 square miles one could see nothing but eerie looking blackened tree stumps and rubble - a strange sort of desert. Everything looks as if it has been subjected to terrific heat and everything you touch crumbles to dust. My pal and I pushed a ten feet high concrete gate post and it just fell over and disappeared in a cloud of brittle pieces and dust. There is nothing solid.

"Huge stretches of ground have been turned into a green crystalline substance which crunches as you walk on it. You can make out the remains of a bus or tram car here and there but when you touch the twisted metal which remains, it just collapses. I picked up a half inch steel bar and snapped it like a piece of firewood. All metal looks a blueish-green colour, caused by the tremendous heat no doubt.

"The whole place has a cold emptiness and not a single bird or animal can be seen. I was informed that sixty thousand people were just obliterated in the fraction of a second. I expect they were burnt to dust as no bodies were found."

I would state that any person who was in the British Armed Forces from 1952 onwards and contracted either Leukemia or Myeloma, should be awarded a War pension on the grounds of "Reasonable Doubt" for the reasons I have stated beforehand.

Excluding awards/pensions for deafness, we still need to know urgently if you are given a pension or award and the decision of the DSS (a photocopy of the decision would be appreciated). As Peter Fletcher has said in previous issues, if you succeed in getting an award let us know. Please don't join the FYJIA Club. Any information you send will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Finally, congratulations to John Leuchars for his unselfish work on behalf of the Christmas Islanders. John returned there a few years ago and on his return home collected hundred's of pairs of reading glasses to send to the Islanders. A visit earlier this year had him return home and collect thousands of books to start a library on the Island (see John's report).

The Island is still littered with old vehicles, plant and machinery etc - a load of old scrap rubbish which both the Governments of Great Britain and America neglected to clean up. It is disgraceful to say the least.

On behalf of Peter Fletcher and myself, we thank you all for your support and kind letters of encouragement.

Ken McGinley

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British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association (1992) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Ken McGinley 12 Walpole Place Johnston Renfrewshire PA5 ORE Tel: 0505-704963 VICE-CHAIRMAN: Peter Fletcher “Monte Bello” 134 Clipsley Lane Haydock SLHelens WA11 0UB Tel: 0744-29636 SECRETARY: Derek Heaps 4 Bakewell Drive Castle Donnington Derby DE7 2NF Tel: 0332-811429

TREASURER: Bill Kittsen 28 Westover Green Bramley, Leeds LS13 3SO Tel: 0532-360703

Mike Reid 70 Rochdale Road Redhouse Estate Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 091-549-7620

SOLICITOR: Mark Mildred 165 Greenwich High Road London SE10 8JA TEL: 081-858-8926

Mike Doyle 14 Exeter Gardens Stamford Lines PE9 2RN Tel: 0780-65622

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Chris Rowlands 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool Lll 1HH Tel: 051-226-3441

Ken Taylor 56 Eastbourne Road Stratford, London El5 Tel: 081-555-2644

Bobbie Brewster (Mrs) 61 Cedar Road, Hythe Southampton S04 6PS Tel: 0703-844489

BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES Mike Reid (N E England) 70 Rochdale Road, Redhouse Estate, Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 091-549-7620 John Lowe (Manchester) 45 Sheldrake Road, Broadheath, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5LJ TEL: 061-941-2164 Peter Bullen (North and Mid Wales) Penlan Mill Cottage, Llandegai, Bangor, Gwynnd LLS7 4LG Tel: 0248-352708 Tom Kitching (Humberside) 5 Ellerby Grove, Preston Road, Hull HU9 3PR Tel: 0482-793082 Bill Kittsen (West Yorkshire) 28 Westover Green, Bramley, Leeds LS13 3SQ Tel: 0532-360703 Archie Ross (West Mids) 230 Burton Road, Woodville, Nr Burton-on-Trent Staffs DE11 7JR Tel: 0283-222113 Dave Ireland (North Yorkshire) 28 Main Street, Flixton Village, Scarborough, North Yorks Tel: 0723-890994

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Chris Rowlands (Merseyside) 14 Monksdown Road, Liverpool Lll 1HH Tel: 051-226-3441 Peter and Gron Williams (South Wales), 27 Heol Myrddin, Ffairfach, Llandeilo SA19 6PD Tel: 0558-822141 Dave Riley (Portsmouth) 190 Locks way Road, Milton, Portsmouth P04 8LE Tel: 0705-735669 Ken Taylor (London) 56 Eastbourne Road, Stratford, London E15 Tel: 081-555-2644 Bernard Canovan (Lancashire) 18 Bog Heights Road, Darwin, Lancs BB3 0AW Tel: 0254-771499 Bobbie Brewster (Mrs) (Southampton) 61 Cedar Road, Hythe, Southampton S04 6PS Tel: 0703-844489 John Jones (South Yorks) 16 Peters Road, Edlington, Doncaster DN12 1NJ Tel: 0709-867775 Derek Heaps (East Midlands) 4 Bakewell Drive Derby.

Tel: 0332-811429

Paul Rowles (Kent) 4 Huntsmans Close, Rochester, Kent ME12RD Tel: 0634-828827 Widows Representative Mrs Mavis Gardner, 30 Link Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BW Tel: 0533-364737 Ken Leyland (Canada) 8840 Douglas Street, Box 2121, Port Hardy, BC Canada, Von-2PO Pat Hurley (Milton Keynes) 24 Caxton Road, Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK12 50PG TEL: 0908-313024 A M Loudon (Scotland) 18 McLelland Drive, Kilmarnock, Scotland KA11SE Tel: 0563-43731 J D Crossan (Australia) 80 Hemphill Avenue, Mount Pritchard, New South Wales 2170, Australia

Secrets were cut up over a five year spell!

Bobby Brewster would like to draw your attention to a report written by David Seymour in the Today Newspaper in January 1988 concerning Cabinet papers and Ministry of Defence papers lor the year 1957.

"The report "Real secrets went into the Shredder" says Mr F reached retirement age and he left his job as a high powered civil servant. But not completely.

Twice a week for the next five years he went back to his office in the Ministry of Defence to carry out a new task.

Carefully he sifted through hundred's of Government doc­ uments that were due to be released under the 30 year rule that makes them public after a period of time (year 1957).

Some he put through for release. Others he decided to be marked to be held back and some went into the shredder.

Entirely at his own discretion, he decided what parts of Britain's political and Military history would never officially exist.

The reporter goes on to say: "I have called him Mr F because to reveal his name would expose him to the Official Secrets Act and prose­ cution," Interesting hey, what?

Bobby Brewster

The only rewards we are seeking are pensions and recognition C OMPENSATION compensate.

Collins English die-

tionary refers to it as "make up for - recompense".

Since Ken McGinley formed our Association in 1983 and I joined, I have given many interviews on television, radio and to newspa­ pers, both at home and abroad.

Each time without fail the interviewer mentions compensation.

My reply has been that it is a word I dislike intensely. Why? Use that word and ninety nine times out of a hundred in people’s minds, a sign appears followed by a long telephone number.

Earlier this year our Chaplain, Canon Nicholas Frayling, via MP David Alton, was given the oppor­ tunity to visit the Houses of Parliament and address MFs and Lord's on our behalf.

He was asked: "How much money does each veteran want?"

Nicholas replied that as far as he was aware, we only sought recog­ nition of the duties we performed and pensions.

A few weeks later Ken McGinley, Mike Reid and myself were invited to attend Westminster and address all NE England Labour MP’s, followed by a meeting with the Labour Defence Shadow Party Committee. Again the question arose: "How much are you ask­ ing"? Our reply: Pensions!

The same evening we are invited to have drinks in the bar at Westminster where we spoke socially to many MFs over a pint or two. I took the liberty (my tongue now lubricated) to ask 12 different MP's: "What do you think we veterans are seeking"?

No less than six replied: "Big, big lump sums of money." The other six replied: "Pensions we presume".

On my return home with these snippets of conversation and ques­ tions rigning in my brain (yes, I have one), I telephoned Lord Gordon Parry and discussed the events with him. He, with no fur­ ther ado, kindly arranged a room for us in the House of Lords to address more MFs and Lord’s.

So on July 19th, Ken McGinley, Mike Doyle, Mavis Gardner, and myself met those who had accept­ ed Lord Parry's invitation to listen and ask us questions.

All four of us had our say and questions were asked of us (I might add Peter and Gron Williams travelled from South Wales and Pat Hurley from Milton Keynes to give us their support and encouragement).

The meeting went well and closed with firm promises that they would look even deeper into our affairs and help us achieve justice and recognition.

Compensation - lump sums of money. It has always been my opinion, it always will be - forget

World War 1, World War 11.

Korea, Kenya, Palestine, Falklands, Northern Ireland and others, many others. Places of war and conflict.

We know of servicemen and ser­ vicewomen badly maimed, ruined for life and destined to spend the rest of their lives limbless, con­ fined to wheelchairs; blinded and disfigured. It goes on and on.

Did they get big lump sums of money? No! Pensions? Yes! Men killed in these conflicts or in PoW camps. Did their widows receive lumps sums of money?

No! Pensions? Yes! Many, many people are asking how and why a ludicrous decision can be made where servicewomen fell pregnant, some from illicit love affairs, and were forced to leave HM Forces and were award-

cd large sums of money In my opinion (shared by millions), they should leave.

How can a mother do her service duty or be posted to areas of con­ flict to do duty when she has a baby in her arms? It is common sense that they cannot.

I can recall 1950-5. I was sta­ tioned in the South of England prior to embarkation to Monte Bello, visiting (often) a pub situat­ ed between our camp and a WRAC camp and meeting some ladies who wanted out of the forces. How to work your ticket and get out - get pregnant. The method was foolproof - now they get paid for it.

Paid, HI say so. Someone worked out that a widow from World War 11 in receipt of a war widows pension would have to draw her weekly pension until she was 150 years old to come any­ where near the sums of money some of these service ladies/moth­ ers have received in one lump sum.

The interest alone annually on these types of figures comes to what a war widow would receive annually in pension. Where is the sense? Where is the justice?

The DSS is looking at our claims very sympathetically and is awarding pensions. Alas, one fault. In many cases they are too inconsistent - e.g pensions award ed to a veteran in Scotland - pen sion denied to a veteran in South of England.

Both veterans served on tests, both have same illness. It does not make sense.

I am fully confident justice will one day be done and we shall receive recognition and pensions.

Lump sums of big money - sorry folks. Again it's my opinion - for­ get iL

Peter Fletcher

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SOUTH WALES BRANCH

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T is with regret that we record the sad loss of two veterans who died recently. They were: Mr W B Davies of Blaengarn, MidGlamorgan, and Mr John Wheeler of Risca, Gwent.

Both men served in the 1952 Monte Bello tests in Australia (Operation Hurricane) and John Wheeler co-ordinated the laying of the Memorial Stone for nuclear test victims at the Risca Cenotaph.

We extend our condolences to the widow and families on their sad bereavement.

RECOGNITION: On 30th October, 1994, the BNTVA is invited to attend the Festival of Remembrance at Pontypridd and display our Welsh Standard.

A P Wiliams

HUMBERSIDE BRANCH INCE my last report in the Easter edition of the magazine, quite a lot has been happening at branch level. The branch has now split from being North Yorkshire and Humberside branch to The Humberside Branch.

David Ireland of 28 Main Street, Flixton Village, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, has taken over as Area Representative and I am sure that in due course he will be in touch with all North Yorkshire members. Dave can be contacted on 0723-890994. I would like to thank all members who gave me their support.

Later on in the year we have arranged to stage a branch dinner.

This is the first one we have put together and I am sure it will be a success.

It was a great pleasure to renew old acquaintances at the Annual General Meeting in Blackpool. We had twelve members from this branch attend which I thought was a good effort. We all look forward to next year.

If any member of this branch ever needs help or advice don't forget, I am only a phone call away.

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Tom Kitching

MERSEYSIDE BRANCH HINGS have been very quiet of late in the branch.

However, the Branch Standard Bearer has been showing the flag so to speak and has paraded at Liverpool Cathedral for the D-Day Commemoration; the Army Benevolebt Fund appeal' Korean Veterans service; and finally the Normandy Veterans Service. In September this branch will be represented

by Harry, our Standard Bearer, at Birmingham for the dedication of the new BNTVA Memorial.

I never thought that when I obtained the first stone at Liverpool through the generosity of the Co-Op, that we would finish up with a network of them thanks to the Co-Op and the hard work of Peter Fletcher.

Sadly this year we have lost four branch members - John Downey, Wally Dunne, Graham Wilson and Norman Matheson.

Our deepest sympathies are extended to their families.

Whilst everything appears to be quiet, I am sure our Chairman will have something to say in this edition.

I am receiving telephone calls about all types of Commemorative medals. The position is very simple....they are worn below our own Nuclear Tests Veterans Medal.

T

Finally, the summer edition of the magazine should now have reached you, but if your address is incorrect please inform us of the correct one. Also when you move house please give us all the details - including the postcode.

Peter Fletcher has ordered 100 tickets for the Remembrance Day parade in London. Those wishing to attend should apply to Peter complete with stamp addressed envelope.

Finally, Poppy Day car stickers. The design is to be changed this year so look out for the new one's. "Off with the Old, Donate for the New".

Chris Rowlands

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH N Sunday 26th June this year, the East and West Midlands Branches held a bucket collection at Donington Race circuit and collected £314.13p for the national funds.

On a day when the attendance was reported as being disappoint­ ing by the circuit owners, I think the collectors did well to get in what they did in just two and a half hours.

The last branch meeting before the summer break was held at Mavis gardner's house in the form of a barbeque. A good time was had by those who attended and it raised £24 for branch funds. The next branch meeting will be held on Sunday the 4th September at 19.30hrs.

SECRETARIES REPORT: In one of our magazines I offered to co-ordinate a service to find your long lost mates etc. I am sorry to have to inform the ten people who took the trouble to respond, that the response was so poor it just isn't workable. Thanks also to all those who wrote to me regarding the Auster aircraft and the spray mix. It will be a great help. With the holiday season on us, most things are fairly quiet and we are awaiting the response from the European Courts.

On May 17th this year, Peter Fletcher and I went to the head­ quarters of the Royal British Legion in London to meet with the National Executive committee of the Confederation of British Servicemen and Ex-Servicemens organisations so we could apply to become members of that organisation. We had a good reception and have now been given membership of this large pressure group. I think we can benefit from that membership as well as being able to provide some input to them.

O

Derek Heaps

LONDON BRANCH

T

HIS month the London branch has been searching the Public Record Office files once again, this time not to look for some­ thing new, but something that was destroyed by the Ministry of Defence. Destroyed? Yes, DESTROYED! In letters to Winston Churchill MP and Mr David Alton MP, Viscount Cranborne admitted that the Ministry of Defence destroyed files which had previously been retained. We will therefore never know what these files contained.

A few pages from these files were, however, included in the evi­ dence to the Royal Australian Commission. We have looked at these files to find out whether or not they contained vital information. We did not find any. We should point out that these files did contain infor­ mation about the Grapple tests which was beyond the terms of refer­ ence of the Royal Commission. What the files contained therefore will now be lost forever. So much for Government open ess. We will keep you informed of any future openings of files or strange events.

Ken Taylor

ABOVE: Andy Anderson (Merseyside Branch) is pictured with his friend Benny Silatoli along with his wife Nannah and one of their grandsons. It was taken on a visit to Fiji in 1993 as reported in our Christmas edition.

WIDOWS REPRESENTATIVE

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ANY widows have telephoned me saying they were disap­ pointed by the result of our claims in Strasbourg and they are wondering whether they should carry on with their

claims.

Well ladies my answer is DO NOT GIVE UP. I can only repeat what I have said before and that is keep on fighting. We have had more widows this year so we cannot give up now for their sakes. We must give them every encouragement.

When the Government can hand out thousands of pounds to pregnant ex-service personnel and now they have put £600million aside to repair Senior Civil Servants large houses, I wonder what they have Oned up next to avoid a decision on our behalf.

Good luck to all of you and please do not give up the good fight.

Mavis Gardner

Turning human beings into cash

P

ERHAPS it is worth quoting this analogy that Dr Rosalie Bertel! once made: “If we could compare human beings to money then those alive are now our current account whilst the genetic coding they carry is ouhdeposrt account. After all, every human being that ,s ev0r 9oing to be bom alive in our genetic coding is on the plan­ et now.

"If we were to tell businessmen that they would lose money now and we could not tell them where it was going, or why it was being lost we would be in trouble. By the same token if we opened a deposit account and at the end of the day that money was damaged or unus­ able, we would have some explaining to do.

"Yet when it comes to humans, we lost lives with little or no explana­ tion as to the cause and we damage the future generations yet to come with no comeback's. Perhaps if we insisted on being called five pound notes, we would get the protection of help we needed.

Bobby Brewster

A message from Jodie aged J 50years Late: In Honour of the men of (D-Day 1944

This poem hqs written bv nine war Jodie Johnson from Lancashire and was sent to Peter Fletcher bv her grandfather uho uses the same club/pub as Peter.

I am only a child And it's hard to explain The Feelings I have As I sit in the rain And think of the men Who went off to wait Knowing they wonld not come Dome Anymore

I cannot say thank yon To the ones who returned For thank yon is not W7hat those brave men earned

I cannot say thank yon

I owe them my life

To the men left in France Who laid down their lives To give me a chance

As I live it today A life lived in freedom Been use of that day I owe them much more Than I can ever repay I owe them the lives That they gave np that day They will live in my heart For as long as I live And my children will learn Of the gift that they give

What a difference between us and the American vets I

WOULD like to take you back to the events of April and November, 1985.

The allegations were, that shortly before the inquest into the deaths of two of our test vets, Coroners Officers were approached and intimidated by a Government official. He wanted to know the Coroners political motivation.

Who was this GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIAL and, the question remains, is this still going on?

The Gulf War sickness is now said to be caused by powerful insecticides. Evidence presented to the Royal British Legion and the solicitors retained by them, indicates that the bedding clothes and tents of the troops were sprayed repeatedly with MaJathion, a

phosphorodithoate OP insecticide and that troops were encouraged tto use the spray on their skin.

But the South West Environmental Agency co­ ordinator Elizabeth Sigmond provides a route for further inquiry. The American Gulf veterans, when they got sick, turned to their veterans administration for help. They didn't want to know.

Vets were given medical discharges out; they were denied disability pay. What a familiar story isn't it?

Just recently the American administration has had to climb down from their stance yet again, as they did for the test vets. It is a political fact in the States that the extraordinary power of their congressional committees to probe and DATA ?

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harrass the executive would not have succeeded without the power of the country's 27 million veterans as an institution.

The political potential of the veterans as an interest group is immense and can be organised and rallied through the countrywide network of clubs and bars that are called posts.

Congressmen ignore them at their peril. The Gulf war vets are to get the same as the US Nuclear vets in compensation for their undiagnosed problems and are to be given the benefit of the doubt.

The British Ministry of Defence fails to admit its responsibilty. Once again, the same old, old story.

BOBBY BREWSTER

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IIE European Commission on Human Rights at Strasbourg, France- Why did we go there? For many years now we have campaigned to obtain recognition and pensions for our widows and for our sick - deaths and illnesses caused by our exposure to ionizing radiation during the Tests and following clean-up duties in 1952 -1964 - all for experimental purposes and in defence of our country.

We have had the support of many of our Parliamentarians in the House of Commons and House of Lords, but to no avail and all due to British legislature, stubbornness of certain Ministers and cover-up's in the name of National security and reasons of sensitivity.

American Congress in 1988 passed a radiation exposed veterans compensation act and awarded pensions accordingly to US Veterans. So in April last year we went to Strasbourg to seek some form of relief from our situation.

The Commission, in its wisdom, felt they required answers from Her Majestys Government and dates were set giving time for rele­ vant replies. To date, to the best of our knowledge, no reply has been sent, but we do believe our Government has requested more time to enable them to reply. As it is all in litigation, we cannot say too much or comment, but you will be informed by your area rep­ resentative of any development they receive on progress or setbacks- A list of your committee and its representatives is contained within this magazine.

■ IT is with deep sadness I report that hardly a week goes by that I am not notified of one of us passing away or going down with severe illness. Within the last three months I have, with others, attended four funerals. All too often we learn of a sad loss too late to attend the service or arrange for someone to attend and pay their last respects.

■ ALTHOUGH it is well documented in this issue, I must repeat the congratulations for the team of walkers who completed the Three Peaks walk and in doing so raised through sponsorship a fine amount for BNTVA funds. Also thanks to Derek Heaps and members of our East and West Midlands branches who through the kindness of the directors of Donington race track, were permitted to attend one of the race meetings and have a 'bucket collection’ for our funds.

■ STILL in the Midlands, you may recall I obtained a memorial stone kindly donated by the Co-Operative Funeral Service in Hermes Road, Lichfield. This stone is to be laid in St Thomas Peace Gardens, Birmingham, on Saturday 17th September, 1994. The service will commence at 11.30am and will be officiated by our Canon Nicholas Frayling. Lord Parry of Hayland is to travel up from South Wales to perform the unveiling. The service will be followed by a reception in the Birmingham Nautical Club (12noon-4pm).

West Midlands Nobby Clark and Muriel McCormack are working hard for this occasion.

■ WHILST on the subject of Memorial stones, I was requested by our North East England members to try and organise one for the North East in Durham. I have approached our friends at the Co-operative Funeral Services in Durham for a Remembrance Stone and things are looking very promising. More details in the Christmas issue of the magazine.

■ IN March this year, Derek Heaps approached COBESO (Confederation of British Ex-Service Organisations) with a view to our Association becoming a member of COBESO. Derek and I were invited to appear before their committee, chaired by Air Chief Marshall Sir Thomas Kennedy GCB, AFC, DL, on May 17th and present our case at the Royal British Legion. This is what we did and within an hour of making our presentations we were informed that the BNTVA had been accepted into their fold.

■ KEN was approached by a couple of Fijian veterans re pensions for their widows and their sick. Ken has so much on his plate that I did not hesitate to handle matters when he asked me to. Andy Anderson visited Fiji and brought me back valuable information.

Following letters to the MoD, and the Prime Minister, I was finally referred to the DSS who requested more certain information (this sounds promising). I am now in touch with the lads in Fiji and they have formed their own branch of the BNTVA. If you want help go to the top. We wrote to the Fijian Ambassador in London and he kindly gave us an audience. On Monday July 18th, Ken and I met his Excellency Brigadier General Ratu Epile Nailakitav for a 15-20 minute audience which actually lasted 45 minutes. His Excellency made us feel right at home and at ease. We discussed the plight of the 214 Fijian sailors and army who served on Christmas Island. We also learned Ratu Sir Penaia Gamilav, who served on Christmas Island, is to become President of Fiji in August and is to take his paperwork and information back with him on our behalf and to help his fellow countrymen.

■ WE have a new friend and ally in Miss Isabelle Anderson from Paisley who gives a great deal of her time (including holidays) to work on our behalf. She spends hours and hours typing letters for Ken and I as did our Sheila Gray when she was secretary. What would we do without the Sheila's and Isabelle's of this world?

■ DON James (Christmas Island - London Branch) approached his employers for support of the BNTVA and the company, J Walter Thompson Company Limited, have kindly and generously agreed to produce the next six issues. This really is good news and we are totally indebted to Don and his employers. What of our dear friend Peter Wylde and our lottery. They have financed our past maga­ zines? He is to continue to supply the envelopes and to look after Peter Faulkner who designs and typesets our magazine and helps out where he can in other ways. With such good people supporting us, we are in a sense a very fortunate association.

■ MY work in getting this magazine out to you has been halved at least thanks to Chris Rowlands, who shared the work with me in the past. Chris has now taken on the roll of addressing all labels/envelopes. Chris asks: Do we have your correct address?". If not, please let him know because it is easier for us and easier for the Post Office. I have been requested (and do so willingly) by many rep­ resentatives and their committees to say if you write to any of us please include a stamp addressed envelope.

■ FINALLY, what a lovely surprise when at the last annual general meeting, Archie Ross presented Ken with engraved cut glass tankards on behalf of members of the BNTVA.

Peter Fletcher

D

OES anyone remember Ronald Gambles - that's him pictured on the right? If you do then the family need your help.

Ronald died in August last year and earli­ er this year his wife was turned down for a pension. Now his family want to appeal against that decision.

Ronald served on Christmas island from 1957-58 and the family wants any engi­ neers who served alongside him to get in touch with them.

The family cannot recall what squadron he was with (though the 38/39th rings a bell) but they do know he was involved in the actual refrigeration of the compound.

To help jog memories, we have reprint­ ed an article that appeared in the Sheffield Star in 1985. This appears on Page 2 and may help you recall who Ronald was.

If you do have any information to assist the family with their appeal please write to: Karl Gambles at 11 Hawson Way, Gateford, Worksop, Notts.

T

H E Royal British Legion will be organising the Ex-Servicemens con­ tingent attending the Parade and Service at the Cenotaph, Whitehall, on Remembrance Sunday 13th November.

Those who have served under command of British Forces and War Widows are eli­ gible.

The organisers need to know how many tickets are required by the 30th September so I need a response from you long before that.

I have requested 100 tickets and if you wish to attend you should write to me enclosing a stamp addressed envelope.

Should you feel you cannot march and would like a wheelchair please let me know and our London man, Ken Taylor, will endeavour to get one on loan for you.

The organisers have written explaining to all branches and veterans associations making them aware that there is a ban on smoking and drinking whilst the Parade is taking place and also asking them to make sure that behaviour and dress match the dignity of the occasion.

Tickets are only being issued through Association Secretaries, so branches should contact me as soon as they can.

Peter Fletcher E would like to thank all the members of our Association who took the trouble to return their sponsorship forms for the Three peaks Sponsored Walk.

You will be pleased to know that the grand total of £2072.15p was collected well done and thank you.

W

ABOVE: Ron Gambles - do any engineers remember him?

We feel that we must mention though the 2000 sponsorship forms that were sent out to members, but only SEVENTY were returned. We feel that if more members had participated then we could perhaps have trpbt^d the final amount The first walker to complete the course did it in an excellent time of eight hours and ten minutes. Well done.

We must express our appreciation to all the walkers from Bryant Holmes of Birmingham and also T Wright of Hull as well as the BackUp team who, without their organisation and help the walk could not have taken place.

On behalf of the Branch and the Association, a big thank you from every­ one to each and every one of you. Those people who took part gave up a full week­ end to help our Association so please, in the future, could we not give them the support they deserve?'

Mrs Sue Lyons & Tom Kitching HO was the RAF Corporal dressed up as a woman at the completion of Operation Brumby at Maralinga?

A ceremony was performed at a stone commemorating the end of Operation Brumby and photographs were taken of the occasion.

W

Later questions were asked by Security staff as to how a woman was allowed into the area. Having seen the photographs I can vouch that this is not hearsay.

The person who showed me the pictures was ex-Army and according to him he helped to survey the test sites in Australia.

He said he had attended most of the tests as he had worked with the scientists.

Michael Scarrott

I

urgently require information from former crew members of HMS Alert at Monte Bello to assist our Australian veterans in pension claims.

Do you recall Royal Australian Navy lads seconded to HMS Alert during the tests?

Did you befriend them? Do you recall their duties? Do you remember their names?

This is very important for some claims against the Australian Ministry of Defence.

If you recall anything let me know as soon as possible.

In addition, did you serve on HMS Ullyses at Christmas Island? Do you recall name, names of skipper and senior officers? Do you remember Eddie Eg an? This information is required by our Strasbourg attorney.

Peter Fletcher

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CONGRATULATIONS are due to all those who took part in the Three Peaks Sponsored walk which to date has raised £2072.15p.

We give our wholehearted thanks to the team who completed the gruelling task in 8hrs 10mins and also to the back-up team who ably assisted you.

Many thanks also to members who took the trouble to raise sponsorship from their family and friends.

Alas, many of you it appears did not bother to help or donate for reasons which may vary. Perhaps in future fund-raising events you will reconsider and do your lit­ tle bit instead of leaving it to others.

The Humberside branch, who organised the event (Tom Kitching and Mrs Sue Lyons), donated a bottle of whisky to the member raising the most money. This went to Ken Leyiand, our Canadian repre­ sentative, who travelled over for the annu­ al general meeting and handed over £130 from his Canadian friends. We now await Ken's instructions re the bottle of scotch.

As many of you are aware, we hold a raf­ fle at our social evening following the AGM each year.

Many attend the AGM, but cannot or do not attend the social thus missing out on the raffle for which some 30 or more prizes are donated from throughout the country.

This last AGM, Peter Fletcher and Chris Rowlands decided to hold a raffle during the meeting itself. What a good idea! The afternoon raffle raised £305.40p and the evening raffle brought in £257.05. The Bottle Roll A Coin (bottle donated by Tom Kitching) raised a further £27.50p. Again, many thanks to all those who took part.

Finally, those who require blazer badges and/or Association ties, these are now in stock. Badges are £14, Ties £5 and Car Stickers £2.

Cheques or postal orders for these should be made payable to the BNTVA

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iSSPss and sent to: Bill Kittsen, 28 Westover Green, Bramley, Leeds LS13 3SQ. PS: Have you paid you subs yet?

Bill Kittsen

D

AVE Ireland (Scarborough) recently attended the Ex-Boys reunion at Harrowgate and Peter Fletcher the ex-Boys at Chepstow.

Dave echoes the sentiments of many old boys from Chepstow, Harrowgate, Arbourfield and Aldershot when he says how sad it is that due to cutbacks these Army apprentices colleges are to be closed down this year.

What is to become of our future Army tradesmen-cum-fighting forces? It is indeed a very sad, sad situation.

At his old reunion, Dave met many old mates that he hadn't seen for some 40 years, among them some who had served on the tests between 1952-58.

Anyone who hadn't heard of the BNTVA has now, Dave rectified that and has also been prompted to start a North Yorkshire branch. So now they have their own branch and we wish Dave good luck.

M

RS Irene Amamh of Aldershot pointed out to Peter Fletcher that he had not mentioned A.C.C. in the Easter magazine (Sharks liver story).

De9 Smith is It researching the his­ tory of HMS Narvik (pic­ tured left) and Messina and would like to hear from anyone who served on them at Christmas island particularty com­ panies who brought them home. Write to Reg at Regwen, 14 Ashling Park Road, Denmead, Hants P07 6EH. Tel: 0705-264809

She says RE'S, REME, RASC, RAOC, RM's, RAF and RN were often mentioned, but never the Army Catering Corps.

Her late husband Jimmy was Cook Sergeant on Christmas Island 1957-58 and Irene would like to hear from other ACC's who knew and served with her hus­ band. If you can help, please write to her at: 14 Potters Crescent, Ash Hill estate, Ash, Aldershot GU12 6AY.

B

RYAN Taylor (RAF) S.H.Q. Tent D4, Christmas Island, 1957/58 would like to hear from 417475 Corporal Angus Wilson, Ginger Pizzey and anyone who worked in headquarters, Christmas Island during that period. If you can help ring Bryan on 0810504-8050.

T

HERE are still a few Australian Commemorative medals available covering service in Japan, Monte bello, Emu Reid, Maralinga, Malden and Christmas Island.

The medal can be worn on the left breast (below campaign medals if possessed).

The cost is £30 including postage and packing and applications should be made payable to Peter Fletcher.

David's new plans for the church Here is some news from our David Staniclifle, now the Bishop of Salisbury.

David reckons there should be wider use of the chuches for community events.

He says church doors

should be thrown open for concerts, art exhibitions and other activities.

These comments give food for thought and l wonder whether other churches up and down the country are following suit?

The Bishop has just completed a voyage of discovery which I Informed you about in a previous report.

He travelled across his diocese which stretches from Hampshire through

Wiltshire to Dorset, and he and his wife Sarah spent three months touring and meeting all the clergy and church wardens.

His plans for the diocese will be unveiled in the autumn.

Paper claims nuclear dust was smuggled to Britain by plane!

Bill P/ewriaht. National President of the Australian ExServices Atomic Survivors Association, has submitted an arti cJe from the West Australian printed in February this year and relating to the smuggling of nuclear dust on to an airline. He said it shows the shrewdness of those responsible and he also points out the British left them with a legacy of time bomb sickness. He goes on to sav: nObserving over the years the UK Governments backing and feeling over the clean-up of Maralinoa and with no care of the Monte Bello's, iust shows total arrogance, not only to the Australian

T

HE British Government smuggled radioactive debris from Pacific hydrogen bomb tests on ordinary Qantas flights, it was alleged.

Citing what it said were newly released official documents, the Observer newspaper said dust from nuclear tests on Christmas Island in the 1950's was secretly loaded on to Qantas flights.

Passengers at risk?

The newspaper said although Hbomb dust was sealed In cans, placed In polythene bags and loaded into lead-lined boxes before being dispatched under diplomatic cover, it was impossible to know whether innocent Qantas passengers and crew were exposed to radiation.

Government, but to ex-servicemen who found themselves involved and certainly not as volunteers.

7 would like vou to pay particular attention to the words Smuggled. Scheduled flights (passenger), Without knowledge_ of air air crews or passengers. A courier died: Dust examined in England: Maralinoa - Australia; Levels could have been higher; Hiding behind compliance with the Vienna Convention: Regularly taken to Britain. May I ask what the secrets would (could) have been should any aircraft have crashed? Still it goes on.

The records suggested the radia­ tion levels could have been many times higher than permitted safety levels.

A courier, who accompanied the first diplomatic bag from Christmas island In 1957, died from two differ­ ent types of cancer In 1991.

The samples were flown, without the airline's knowledge, to Britain via Honolulu, San Francisco and New York and were secretly approved by the United States State Department, the newspaper said.

Christmas Island, not to be con­ fused with its namesake in the Indian Ocean, Is part of the Central Pacific republic of Kiribati and is now known as Kiritimati. It is located North east of Samoa.

The dust was examined at Britain's top secret Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston.

The Observer said the docu­ ments, recently placed In the

Public Records Office, also revealed that debris from earlier ABomb tests at Maralinga in South Australia, was sent to Britain by diplomatic bag on scheduled flights from Australia.

The Christmas island H-bomb debris was gathered by Royal Air Force crews, who flew through the nuclear clouds taking samples.

Increase in radiation One file cited an Air Ministry observer monitoring the sampling from the ground as estimating his radiation dose could have been five times above permitted levels.

The British Foreign Office spokesman said Britain had adhered strictly to rules on diplo­ matic bags laid down In the Vienna Convention.

He admitted that nuclear debris from tests in the Nevada Desert In the 1980's was regularly taken to Britain on freight planes.

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