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BNTVA SEPTEMBER 1995 EDITION

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MAGAZINE

How BJVTVA is able to set such high M standards EET four men who are helping the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association to set new standards literally. They are our Standard bearers who are seen all over the country flying the flag with pride and with honour.

Pictured from left to right they arc: Bob Smith (Scottish Standard), Nobby Clarke (National Standard), Harry Hoult (North West Standard) and Dave Riley (Southern Standard). The picture was taken outside the Salvatian Army Citadel during our ACM week-end in Blackpool.

Fun and laughter on VE Day T

HE formalities and the fun came together for the cele bration of the 50th Anniversary of VE Day on Bank Holiday Monday, May 8th, for which there was a packed pro gramme of activities. The village centre at Hythe, Kent, was a riot of red, white and blue for the parade which began at 1 lam and went through the streets to Hythe Marina for a service and unveiling of a plaque at the new viewpoint. This was a day that made us very proud and we believe it is the first time our Standard has been on parade with serving members of the Armed Forces.

BY BOBBY BREWSTER

Taking part were ex-servicemen from the Second World War; two of our own Veterans; the Royal British Legion and the Service Association; St John Ambulance; the Red Cross; Fire Brigade; members of 17 Port Regiment from Marchwood; and a number of youth bands accompa nied by the Boys Brigade Band. THE SALUTE: The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mary Fagin JP, accompanied by the Chairman of the New Forest District Council, Jean Vernon Jackson, took the salute. After the parade and service, a giant street party got underway and

U.S. landing craft and other military vehicles were on view. There was also an Air Sea Rescue display involving the Coastguard helicopter and a 1931 RAF 206 Powerboat which provided trips on Southampton water. Entertainment was provided by the Hythe and Dibden Brass Band, Esso Music and Drama Group, and members of the Air Training Corps and Army Cadets. There was also a display of 1940’s vehicles In the vil lage. Our Standard was invited to take part in another big parade in Hampshire in August and Standard bearer, Dave Riley, accepted the invitation to go along.

ABOVE: The Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, May Fagin, takes the salute at the Hythe VE Day celebrations.

KiritimatVs a gem despite some flaws BY PAT HURLEY

N January this year I returned to Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in the company of Arthur Inwood,

CHRISTMAS

ISLAND

ex-Royal Signals, who had acquired medical supplies which are needed for

the island’s medical centre. After spending a long weekend in Honolulu, it was just a short three hour flight down to the island, a weekly trip that arrived at 7am on the Tuesday after leasing England in mid-winter. How bright and colourful the Island was, the blue of the sea and the sky, the white of the coral sand, the green of the foliage. Was this Paradise returned? Tune would tell. At the airfield we were met by John Bryden (a Scot) who lives on the island with his wife Anna and their two boys, Bill and Jaky. John and Anna were to be our hosts for the next four weeks of my stay and thanks to them my visit far exceeded all expectations. John and Anna ran a vehicle hire and repair business at the main camp. Yes, the names of the areas arc still used today. Since Independence in July 1977 and the withdrawal of the military, the island was stripped of all moveable assets by The Kiribati Government and the areas with which we were so familiar have now become overgrown, but one can still recognise the sites. John took us on a tour of the areas which helped us no end. Today the population of the island is in the region of 2,400 spread between the four vil lages of London, Tabwakca, Banana and Paris. The people themselves have not changed a great deal since the days when wc were there in the 1950’s. They welcomed ils as returning friends and wliilc in London we visited John Lcuchar at the library which he has set up. He has done well becaase it is now very popular. A visit to the Medical Centre at London was a shock. As I have said, Paradise returned. Well, just scratch the surface and the veneer comes away. The staff do what they can, but there is no doctor and the centre has no operating the atre and few medical supplies. The Sister and her nurses do what they can though. Many things come to mind, but one in par ticular is that they celebrate a child’s first birthday more tlnui any other. Providing a child reaches the first birthday stage it will stand a good chance of growing to become an adult, this means up to 54 years for a man and 60 for a woman. It was said to me that

ABOVE: Arthur Inwood is pictured with the nurse outside the Medical Centre handing over some of the medical supplies and gifts that he on his journey back to Christmas Island. should you become ill, you cither get better or die - and tills only for what we regard as minor illnesses. It has been published that when wc left the island, we left it in a mess. There is a mess, but who is responsible? One prob lem that came to light was revealed when I was with an Australian aid team who were dealing with the fresh water problem. It was discovered that the main catch ment area runs from the main camp to the airfield and unfortunately this is where most of the scrap is. So what is happening is that lead’s and toxin’s are getting into the water supply, according to the team. Near the village of Banana there arc rows

upon rows of rusting vehicles and equip ment and in addition a coconut grove near the airfield is a dump for thousands of 40 gallon drums which had contained tar, the residual of which had spilled out and in some places is quite thick. In other places there is asbestos. Is it safe? We know the effects of asbestos, but do they? It would appear that I have painted a grim picture, but to me the island is still a gem even with all its flaws. During my stay I met many of the islanders and made new friends. It is my intention, one day, to return there again.

This is the text of a letter that Sheila Gray has sent to Australian Prime Minister Mr Paul Keating to try and get him to ban French nuclear tests Dear Mr Keating When will you realise the need to stand up against people who want to further pollute your beautiful country and the surrounding areas? Our country used it in the 1950’s for nuclear weapons testing and you are still suffering the after effects, and will do so for many years to come. The British Government is still ignoring the damage those tests caused to the nuclear veterans who took part in them, some of whom emigrated to your country. Now our Government is ignoring you by refusing to intervene in the French Government's decision. Therefore it is up to you to say “No, enough is enough." Your fellow countrymen have already shown you and the French people their feelings concerning this issue by their actions: (a) Grounding and refusing to ser vice French aircraft on Bastille Day. (b) Refusing to purchase French produce. (c) Cancelling orders for French cars. All this, however, will only affect some people's pockets. If the French tests are allowed to proceed

NON! NON! NON! The message is clear so now it’s up to you to do the same thing i

they will be affecting people’s lives and the lives of future generations. A French scientist, now living in your country, has warned you that the Atoll is a 9000 year old extinct volcano already cracked. Further testing in that area could complete the break. Should this happen it would cause a tidal wave which would spread all previous pollution into the Pacific. Are you sufficiently qualified, sci entifically, to say this will not occur? If you are not sufficiently qualified to state categorically that everyone will be safe, then you, not the French Government, will be held fully responsible by your people for the outcome. Are you willing to take this risk?

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The New Zealand Government has shown it's disgust at the French Government’s actions by being will ing to send a ship out to the Atoll. Your country should do likewise. I do not think you would have the need to order your naval personnel to take part in such an exercise, they would willingly volunteer. I beg you Mr Keating, for your countrymen’s sake and for all civilised countries, refuse the French Government permission to further pollute your part of the uni verse. Yours sincerely Sheila Gray (Mrs) Secretary

peace of mind by being prepared People who care in time of need

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Chairmans report

OU arc all well aware that we have continuously condemned and contested the methodology of the N.R.P.B. studies as well as the overwhelming influence of the Ministry of Defence to ensure the figures they produced suited their purposes. If you control the two groups (participants and non-participants) you can manipulate the outcome to your 6wn advan

tage. I can now confirm that the Ministry of Defence and Sir Richard Doll of the Imperial Cancer Research were both approached by an “independent body” to tie up all the loose ends by conducting a third study. Both parties refused point blank stating that the line had been drawn for the study. The previous findings would stand - IT WAS FINISHED! Only last November Dr Sarah Darby clearly stated in a national radio broadcast that the studies on our veterans was inconclu sive. We arc all of us very much aware of the Government’s stand on this matter - save money, watch the purse strings - and Sir Richard, who spends, it seems, more time overseas giving lectures or appearing in the Courts of Justice giving evidence on behalf of the Establishment saying that low level radiation is of no danger to anyone. He is, I understand, at this time of writing doing just that in Holland for the Establishment versus Greenpeace. He is, to say the least, far, very far, from being Independent and Unbiased. It is said that not many years ago innocent people in Spain were on the verge of being sentenced to life imprisonment when Sir Richard’s evidence and conclusions were that the olive oil these people produced for cooking etc, was the cause of many dcatlis and severe illnesses. It was finally discovered that the olive oil was in fact HARMLESS. The deaths and illnesses had been caused by pesticide used on growing fruit and foods. At the recent conference we attended in Alberta, Canada, much valuable information was obtained and given fsee separate report). We learned that the Americans were involved in the Grapple Scries. The three Malden island tests were also monitored by the US Air Force from Hickham air base in Honolulu. The testimony of two U.S. participants were read out. One of the crew had thyroid cancer and another, Sgt.Ed Burke, had lung cancer and part of his windpipe removed. The U.S. involvement was known as “Operation Miami Moon.” The United States Government continually denied there had been such an operation, but the persistence of Ed Burke finally produced an admission that it did take place and he is now in receipt of suitable settlement for his two conditions. It was enlightening to hear a former U.S. defence nuclear agency official, William J Brady, lifting the lid on the improprieties of his former employers at the Nevada Test Site where he had worked for thirty years. He confirmed our suspicions that there are two sets of recorded doses - one for veterans which reads zero and one for Government records which does not read zero. The Alberta conference was an outstanding success and both Peter Fletcher and myself thank all the veterans from the United Kingdom who travelled to Canada to support us. These included Dave Riley and Sid Hardwick from Portsmouth, little Terry Mercer from St Helens, George Armstrong and Richard Smith from Gcordicland plus two of our members who are resident in Canada, Tom Connolly and the widow of the late Michael Raynham - Patricia. Not forgetting, of course, Laurence Dcvcrall who organised the Conference. We also thank our Membership as a whole for their support and backing making it possible for us to go on the trip and attend such a worthwhile conference. We returned home well and truly tired and jet-lagged, but very much wiser. We also returned home to be faced with a moun tain of mail amongst which was an invitation to attend the XI International Congress organised by the Baltic Ecological Parliament in Darlowa, Poland from 19th-23rd October, 1995. The invitation is from the Academy of Medicine, Gdansk, Poland. Among the items to be discussed are Full Day 1: Health - Prevention - Environment. Radiation - Protection Anniversary of Chernobyl. Full day 2: Radiation Experiments on People - Ethics - Morality. Full Day 3: Environmental and Health Promotions Problems. It is thought these conferences, our meeting with other organisations and fellow victims, that we are able to collect and exchange valuable information and material which is of benefit to all of as. I do so hope we can attend and represent our Association, but as always we need finance. Would you like to help? We have to notify our intention to attend by 30th August. This we will do on the understanding we can finance the same. Europe: Our lawyer Ian Anderson in New York is very pleased and optimistic on the progress to date and we have high hopes of a suitable outcome by the end of the year. You will, all of you, I am sure, appreciate that we are at all times very wary and reluctant to discuss this particular delicate situation over the telephone for obvious reasons. The testing of nuclear weapons has again reared its ugly head, this time by the French. Upon learning of this, Sheila Gray and I immediately wrote to President Chirac and the French Government condemning their evil intentions. We pointed out that other Govcrmcnt’s may follow suit. Then, lo and behold, two days later the U.S. announced they may do the same. I doubt very much that our Government will be making a similar announcement. Why? Because I cannot envisage the Australian Government or the South Pacific Government’s allowing us back to further contaminate their land and their people. Likewise, the residents of the United States of America have already indicated that no more “foreign” tests should be carried out in Nevada. If the nuclear weapons tests were and are safe then why not conduct them in our own country on our coastlines.

There would be no danger!!!

Ken McGinley

Around the Branches..!) LONDON BRANCH FOR this edition of the magazine the London branch has several interesting items, although they are mainly of a social nature rather than a news item First the good news - the Government has opened the Cabinet files. The bad news - they only relate to the Maud Committee, Tube Alloys and Los Alamos. Not much in them I’m afraid. One of the files contains one or two letters plus copies of the Henry D Smyth report on the Manhattan Project. It was published in August 1945 by the American's enabling the Russians to know which method of enrichment to use to make their bomb. Why must we in Britain wait 50 years for this report? Other files of relevance to the 1950's tests are being promised for release. We will keep you posted. For those wanting a break, the Second Christmas Island Veteran’s Reunion is just the ticket. The 1995 Reunion is being held from Friday 27th to Monday 30th October, 1995, at Sands Bay Holiday Village, Weston-Super-Mare, Avon. The first reunion was at the Bull and Bush Inn, Surrey, in September 1993. The reunion offers the opportunity for vet erans and their wives to enjoy a social week-end with lots of activities. The price is £85 per person full board (when two share). For bookings and further details please phone 01934-622548. Currently in London there is an exhibition at The Edge Gallery called 'From Nuclear Bombs to Nuclear Bullets; Secret Nuclear War in the 50's and 90’s’. It runs until October and The Edge Gallery can be found at No 2, The Circle, Queen Elizabeth Street, London SE1 2LP. Nearest tube and BR is London Bridge. For further details ring 0171403-4198. Finally, we have two meetings this month. The first is on Saturday 16th September at the Royal Engineers Museum, RE Bromptom Barracks, Chatham, Kent. The second is on Sunday 17th September at The Lithuanian Club, 1 Ladbroke •Gardens, London W11 2PT. Both meetings start at 1pm. If you intend to attend please let us know so we can arrange refreshments. If you require transport please contact Paul Rowles, John Berry (0181-961-5148) or myself. We look for ward to seeing you. Ken Taylor.

SCOTTISH BRANCH IT is hoped to form an official Scottish Branch of the Association and the intention is to hold an inaugural meeting on Thursday 28th September, 1995, at Portland Bowling Club, South Hamilton Street, Kilmarnock, at 7pm for 7.30pm. I realise a lot of members will be unable to attend due to the distance involved, but will those members who do wish to come along please contact me on 01563-543731, so that I may have some idea of the numbers to expect. Even if you are unable to attend let me know if you agree or not about setting up a Scottish branch. I recently attended a conference in Carlisle organised by C.O.R.E. (Cumbrians Opposed to a Radioactive Environment). This conference was held over two days and

there were speakers from Russia, United States, and Great Britain who gave us food for thought as well as plenty of data on radiation, fallout etc. Unfortunately the speaker who was going to talk about Nuclear Weapons testing was taken ill and was unable to attend, but I have asked for his papers to be forwarded to me. I also met lawyers representing the American veterans, among other groups, so some useful contacts have been made. Any useful data/information I receive will be passed on to the Executive Committee for their perusal. Once again please let me know if you can attend the proposed inaugural meeting on 28th September. Archie Loudon.

SOUTH CHESHIRE/NTH STAFFS BRANCH THE branch meeting held on July 7 was overshadowed by the sudden death of Reg Brunt. Reg was a member of BNTVA for a number of years and served on Christmas Island in 1958. After a conversation with Mrs Brunt, she has decided to carry on Reg’s membership. The meeting then discussed all relevant aspects of our association and we were told Bernie Bossons is going to do a sponsored Bunjy jump to raise funds for the Association. Our secretary, Andy Anderson will join Bernie in this high fly ing adventure. Anyone who would like to sponsor these brave or otherwise people, let me know. Congratulations to all who took part in the recent Canadian venture. John Cole

TREASURERS REPORT AS I wrote in the last issue of the magazine, thanking loyal members who pay their subscriptions and also give dona tions to the Association, no matter how small, we are again very thankful for these donations and I wish to thank mem bers once more and also the Branches who have sent in donations. Also, since the last report, a lot of members who have not been paying their subscriptions have now done so, but I am sorry to say there are still a lot who have not paid since we changed over in 1992. In addition, on listening to Branch representatives, it seems they are being let down in many ways because their mem bers are not backing them or attending meetings which are in their interests. I can assure you that these people put in a lot of time and hard work to keep branches going so please give your Branch representative the support they deserve. The Executive Committee also needs support and needs your subscriptions to keep the Association going because it costs a lot of money for postage, phone calls to people in high places, travel and a lot of other things that must be done to gain justice for the Veterans. I may be stepping on a few toes, but there are too many veterans who are sitting on the fence while others do the work. We know that there are those who are very ill and this we understand, but it is those who should give their support, but don't. If there was such a thing as large pay-out's to vet erans, just watch them come out of the woodwork then. Bill Kittsen

(Around the Branches..2j NORTH EAST BRANCH AT the time of writing, we are still waiting for permission for the laying of a Memorial Stone in the North East. I would like to thank all those who have phoned enquiring about this and will ensure that they are all notified when a definite date has been confirmed. I would also like to thank the following for their kind dona tions towards the expense of carrying out the above ceremo ny: D Parkin - £50, C E Young - £10, J Keighley - £20, M Smith - £20, C Peacock - £10, W Bremner - £10, R Cambell £20, R.A.O.B. Association - £ 10, H Brown - £25. This, together with a raffle I ran that has been verified by Redhouse Working Mens Club,-the total stood at £691 less £18 for printing costs. Once again, thanks to all concerned. A special thank you to Bill Cambell for all his past assistance and to Peter Fletcher for his unswerving loyalty to all he sets his mind to do. Mike Reid.

MERSEYSIDE BRANCH THE Branch is once again very quiet. We are currently wait ing for the Government's reply to the European Commission. The next event for our branch is our annual Remembrance Service being held on Tuesday 3rd October at St.John's Gardens. Support for this event over the past years has been disappointing to say the least. Our Chaplain, Canon Frayling, always has the service sheets printed for us and presents an excellent service. I would implore you this year to make every effort to come along. If we are not supporting our own events, how can we encourage outsiders to come along. Branch meetings are held the first Sunday of January, April, July, and October at the RBL Club, Stonebridge Lane, Liverpool. Should you have difficulty getting to meetings through lack of transport, please let me know because I am sure the branch could help you. Finally, I get phone calls asking for Veterans names and addresses, most of whom are not members, and if they are not I will not give names out. Very soon I will be able to send to each rep the complete membership list. This has taken so long due to the large numbers of members who, as far as we know through the returned magazines, have just GONE AWAY. IMPORTANT ITEMS RE: Remarried Veterans Widows. (1) Those widows seeking reinstatement of their widows pension through being widowed a second time, divorced or legally separated, have been lodging claims with the War Pensions Agency. It is vital to lodge claims NOW. Although payments will not start until October 1st, claims received and approved after then will not be backdated. (2) Following the announcement that the War Widows pen sion is to be restored/awarded to those who have been bereaved fora second time, or are divorced or separated, the Legion's Pensions department says that many of those enquiring about this welcome change would have qualified under the old rules governing the awards. Any War Widow wishing to apply for restoration of her pen

sion should write to Mrs May Bywater, Block 6, Room 311, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP, giving her full name; as many details as possible of her first husband (for whom she received the pension originally); his name; his service details; any reference number; the date he died; the date of marriage; the date a second marriage ended and the reason it ended - death of husband or divorce. If any of the above is relevant to you, then act now because the pension will not be backdated when it comes into force in October if you do not apply by then. May I wish you all and your families Health and Happiness. Chris Rowlands PS: The report that Manchester United have offered Everton £10.000.000 for the FA Cup has been denied.

HUMBERSIDE BRANCH AT the time of writing we were all looking forward to the 23rd July when we had our Branch Standard dedicated (see report below). It has been a long hard struggle raising the funds, but with the help of businesses, Local Council's and some of our very good friends, we manage to cross the barrier. We have now started to hold our own meetings on a month ly basis, one as a Branch meeting and the other the following month as a Social Meeting (Yarn and a Jar) The first one went down very well indeed and if any of our members wish to attend the address is: 93 Beverley Road, Hull, at 7.30pm the fourth Tuesday of every month. We will be pleased to see some new faces so why not bring along a guest and make an evening of it. Look forward to seeing you. If any North Yorkshire members wish to be attached to this Branch please let me know and I will keep you posted. Tom Kitching Dedication of our Standard: A Service of Remembrance and the Dedication of our Standard for the BNTVA (Humberside branch) took place at the beautiful Holy Trinity Church, Hull, on Sunday July 23,1995. Local mem bers as well as members from London, West Midlands, East Midlands, Merseyside. Lancashire and the North East, attended. In all some 120 people were present. The service was conducted by Canon John Waller, the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Canon Nicholas Frayling, our Chaplain and Rector of Liverpool, who performed the Dedication, Mgr Antony Bickerstaffe. representing the Roman Catholic Church, and Rev.Michael Rattenbury of Trafalgar Street Church, Hull. Wreaths and flowers were laid in the Sanctuary by the Lord Mayor of Hull and other local dignitaries, Peter Fletcher on behalf of the Association, Mrs Sue Lyons. Tom Kitching, other veterans and grand-children of veterans. Our National Standard was in attendance borne by Derek Heaps in the absence of Nobby Clarke, whose health prevented him attending. Our North West Standard was borne by Harry Hoult and ten other standards of various regiments. We marched from the church to the Guildhall led by the City of Hull Pipe Band, and the Lord Mayor of Hull, Cllr John Blake, took the salute dressed in his full regalia. This was followed by a buffet in the Guildhall. Congratulations are due to Tom Kitching and Mrs Sue Lyons for their sterling work in making this a per fect day. Peter Fletcher

I Around the Branclies..3 NEW SUSSEX BORDERS BRANCH As the new branch representative, I hope to re-establish a strong branch and voice for BNTVA down here in “sunny" Sussex. The country borders membersip have also not been forgotten and with their support to the East and West Sussex residents, I truly look forward to our future pro gramme. It is intended to hold a summer meeting in August or September in the Worthing/Lancing area. With a good . response to this inaugural gathering, we can determine the best way forward. I believe our branch will be a busy and bouyant part of the national network. Should you have any news or views to prepare and support our new branch actvities, do please contact me on Horsham (01403)732218. See you soon! Andrew Blosse

DEVON AND CORNWALL BRANCH FOLLOWING the mention in the Easter edition of our maga zine, several members have contacted me with kind offers of help with meeting rooms at Falmouth, Bodmin, Torquay and Exmouth. I very much appreciate their offers of assistance and would like to thank members wholeheartedly. Having both Counties to represent, I find it very difficult to

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get around to meet everyone. I am sending out correspon dence to members by post. I have not had the chance to help members individually, but if there is anything I can do in the future, please let me know. I would like to welcome two new members to the branch and I would also like to thank Bobby Brewster for her expert help and assistance in dealing with two problem cases recently. Noel Hendy

KENT BRANCH l would like to thank everybody for supporting the recent Last : Parade at Chatham Maritime. Fifteen members kindly attended the Parade which was held on a lovely, sunny day and there was a big turnout to see us march past in time to the sound of eight band's, linking us up with the return of HMS Chatham. Let us hope and pray that this has given us another platform to further our cause. All the best to you all. Paul Rowles

MILTON KEYNES BRANCH QUARTERLY meetings of our branch are held on the first Sunday of the month starling at 12 noon. They are held at the Royal British Legion, Newport pagnell, and we would like to see as many of you as possible attending. It would seem that history is repeating itself with the French Government’s intention to test eight Nuclear weapons. I did note that only once was it reported on the news that there were demonstrations in the streets of French Tonga and that rainbow Warrior was heading for the Pacific. Pat Hurley

CANADIAN BRANCH

•'*/

ALTHOUGH I was unable to attend the Canadian first nuclear convention in Lethbridge, Alberta, the news casts and phone calls to Laurence Deverall kept me up to date. Peter Fletcher told me that the meeting went well and he enjoyed his visit to Canada. He also told me about meeting Pat Raynham, a branch member. Good to know that Pat made the trip from Ontario to Alberta. A letter from myself has gone to the Canadian Prime Minister asking him to strongly oppose the French nuclear testings in the Pacific. The letter contained many reasons why he should do this and these reasons we all know so well. I hope to relay the contents of his reply to you soon. Ken Leyland

Please keep sending in your Branch news and any pictures. All copy should be sent to: Peter Fletcher, “Monte Bello11, 134 Clipsley Lane, Haydock, St. Helens WA11 OUB

News in Brief

Help us get to Poland JL S reported elsewhere in this magazine, we have X Jkreceived an invitation to attend the International Congress at Darlowo, Poland, in October this year. Can you help us to send a del egation by giving a donation? Your contribution will be grate fully accepted. Please send your cheques or postal orders to: Peter Fletcher, “Monte Bello”, 134 Clipsley Lane, haydock, St.Helens WA11 OUB, made payable to “BNTVA Polish Congress”. All names and donations will be logged and will be forwarded to our treasurer for recording and banking. A full list of donors will appear in our next magazine unless otherwise stated. Please help if you can as these conferences help us all.

Anniversary trip is being planned ANY veterans wanting to go back to Christmas Island for the 40th Anniversary of the first bomb, should note the date of the event Is 15th May. 1997. Please let me know and I will try to arrange a package deal . Call Arthur Inwood on 01327312413 or write to 9 Jelllcoe Close. Daventry NN1 1 4JU. A deposit will be required by April 1996 when I shall know the cost of the trip.

Best wishes to Bill WE’RE sorry to report our friend Bill Plcwright, President of the Australian Ex-Services Atomic Survivors Association, lias suffered numerous heart attacks and is cur rently out of action. We all wish him well and a speedy recovery. We’re sure Ills wife Christine will try to ensure this.

Anyone seen Jackie

DOES anyone know the whereabouts of Jackie Sheen, formerly from the Isle of Man, who served on HMS Cook at Christinas Island. Anyone with any information please pass it on to Peter Fletcher.

PENSIONS: Please let us know if you succeed! By Ken McGinley

T is almost on a weekly basis that we learn of one of our members having passed away. It goes with out saying that our thoughts and prayers go out to the bereaved fami lies. Just recently Derek Maugers was taken. His widow, Lynn, rang me with this sad news saying Derek passed away peace fully, but vowed she would carry on with us in our fight for truth and justice for all. Derek suffered from Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and in November last year was awarded a pension via the Appeals Tribunal. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma is known to be related to radiation exposure. This was the fourth successful claim for this ill ness yet members throughout the country have been denied a pension for the same condition.

Why oh why cannot our War Pensions agencies and Pension Appeals tribunals get together and demonstrate some form of consistency and compassion when handing out these awards. Please this is important: Time and time again both Peter Fletcher and myself have asked you to inform me if you receive either an award or a pension. Please forward any decision to me as this enables me to keep an updated list of accepted conditions. This does not apply to deafness unless it is linked to another condition. We do not want to know how much you received, that is your private affair. But we do need to know if you actually received an award or pension and, of course, the condition. This information can help other veterans and our widows. To quote Peter: "Don't join the F.U.J.I.A. Club - tell us and help us to help others."

IT WASN’T THE BNTVA WHO BETRAYED YOU!

By Peter Fletcher

E have received some com plaints and uncomplimentary remarks re a Christmas Island veterans 1956-1960 reunion. The brochure sent out by a holiday camp has been received by many C.l. veterans. I was in Monte Bello in 1952 and have received two of these brochures. I have also received letters and phone calls asking me: "How dare I pass on their names and addresses to a third party." On the two brochures I received I had to pay excess postage because no stamps had been put on them. One was anonymous and the other gave his name, address and stated that he resigned from the BNTVA and no longer wished to be a member. IANe, the BNTVA, did not send these adverts out. Please let it be known that this proposed reunion has nothing to do with our British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association. Your details and records in our possession are strictly private and confidential. They are only passed on when necessary to a third party if it is in the interests of our aims and

claims, to aid research etc. We know we have your permission to do this. I do not know who divulged names and addresses to this company. I do know it was not our Chairman, our Secretary, our Treasurer or myself, and to the best of my knowledge it was not anyone on the Executive Committee. I do so trust that this reassures those of you who feel your confidences have been betrayed by the BNTVA. We are not respon sible for this breach. Following the Christmas Island reunion at The Bull and Bush in London last year, I asked one of their organisers if he wanted me to mention their next reunion in our mag azine. The offer was respectfully declined and he said he would let me know later. Having said that, please let me add that these reunions of old comrades are good for the body, soul and mind. Let us have more of them, but in doing so do not lose sight of the main aims and pur poses: Justice, Truth and Unity for all Nuclear Test Veterans.

Vice-Chairmans report OUR Annual General Meeting for 1995, held In our own dear Blackpool on April 29th, proved to be another huge suc cess. Your Executive Committee was retained with Just one exception - our secretary for three years, Derek Heaps, retired from the post, but still carries on his position of East Midlands representative and will also act on behalf of vet erans or our widows at tribunal appeals. Many thanks Derek! Our new secretary Is in act our old one - welcome back to Sheila Gray. I recall a meeting of Committee and Representatives one cold dark November Saturday in 1985. We had no secretary and Sheila volunteered to take the minutes of the meeting and also to act as secretary for a period of six months only. Seven whole years later she was still there and only stood down to look after “our big Frank Gray”. The good Lord let her do this for a few months before he took Frank from us on August 12, 1992. Welcome back Sheila! I have no date as yet for our 1996 Annual General Meeting. Hopefully It will be at the same venue and around the last Saturday of April next year. We will inform you ail in good time to book your week-end, accommodation etc. I have approached our friends in Blackpool Conference Office asking their invaluable assistance yet again. What would we do without these good people?

★

★★★★★★

OUR standards have been on parade in many areas over the last few months covering V.E. Day and other anniver saries. I get good feelings when I think back over the last few years. Many people, mainly in the Establishment, classed us as radicals, troublemakers in the being, muck rakers etc etc. Not anymore. We are now known and respected not only nationwide, but worldwide. To receive invitations to attend parades with our standards, to attend national and international conferences, to speak and/or appear on radio and television is, all in all, a great honour. In our chairman, Ken McGinley, we have one great Ambassador to represent us as was proved yet again just recently at the 1st International Test Veterans and Atomic Survivors Conference which took place at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. As you are aware, Ken and myself represented Great Britain. We were supported by members Dave Riley (Portsmouth), Sid Hardwick (Portsmouth), Terry Mercer (St.Helens), Richard Smith (Newcastle-Upon-Tyne) and George Armstrong (Gateshead), who did a great job with his video camera. They all went to Canada at their own expense and other BNTVA members who attended were Canadian residents, Mrs Patricia Raynham and Tom Connolly. We must not forget, of course, Laurence Deverall, who organised the confer ence. Lectures and talks were given by veterans leaders, scientists and lawyers from Great Britain, Australia, Canada and the United States. Civilian USA “Downwinders” were also present and explained their problems and progress. Ken spoke well, loud and clear, and as usual pulled no punches. Robert Campbell and Dr Oscar Rosen spoke for their American veterans outlining their problems and the solutions they are pursuing. Ed Burke, a US veteran, spoke of his involvement with Operation Grapple (Malden Islands) and his successful fight for a pension from the U.S. Government. On the scientific side there was Robert Robotham from Australia as well as William J Brady, a former employee of the U.S. Nuclear Defence Agency - both dose reconstruction experts. Dr Brian Lentle of America, explained the effects of radiation and the way which standards of protection are set while Dr Hugh de Witt, a United States physicist from the bomb design laboratories, who explained why the need for bomb designers to stay in work keeps nuclear testing going. Professor Dennis Connolly, a statistician representing Canada and Australia, explained the tricks that can be played with statistics. The lawyers were represented by Andrew Cohen (Great Britain), whose company represented Laurence Deverall in his successful claim

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He explained the trauma, problems and pitfalls of bringing claims for damages due to radiation exposure. Maurice May, the Australian veteran lawyer, gave an entertaining and informative talk on similar problems being faced by Australian veterans. Manuel Machado, United States, spoke about his veterans claims and also present were Ian Anderson, our lawyer in the European Court, who flew in from New York to attend and also to have a conference with us. Last, but not least, Clive Campbell, an 80 year old Australian, attended so he could represent the Australian veter ans. Clive was a civilian security officer at Maralinga and spoke about his experiences there. I must not forget either a representative, whose name slips my mind, from the United States Nuclear Defence Agency who sat through every sit ting there was. He occasionally asked questions then answered them and during one session he mentioned studies on veterans and the NRPB. I questioned him and it transpires that the U.S. Nuclear Defence Agency were, and no doubt still are, liaising in some form with the NRPB. A BIG QUESTION MARK!!! All In all a lot was learned from that conference and a great deal of valuable knowledge has and will be shared by all Nuclear test veterans and the innocent Nevada “Downwinders”. It proved that if we Veterans, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Fiji, United States, pool our knowledge and co-operate with each other as allies, we will speed up our headway to successful claims against respective Government’s and establishments. “We know we are right. ” Staying in Canada, we did manage a little time off to socialise, relax and unwind. We would never have done it if it had not been for the Lethbridge “General Stewart branch” of the Royal Canadian Legion who could not do enough to look after us and make our stay unforgettable. They even turned out in force to say farewell to us at the airport. Many, many thanks to Hub. Gil, Dave, Tom and Stan - God Bless you all, so say all of us. Our thanks to the Conference Office staff and housekeeping staff at the University of Lethbridge - you all did us proud. Finally, my personal thanks to solicitor Andrew Cohen for his advice in helping me understand one or two things I could not quite grasp during the conference.

★

★★★★★★

WE have received an invitation to attend a conference much nearer home in October, at Darlowa, Poland. The invitation comes from the Academy of Medicine, Gdansk, Warsaw. Will we attend? It is up to you the membership We understand standard accommodation will be arranged for us, but as for fares, food etc we must cater for ourselves. The conference is outlined in our Chairman’s report.

★

★★★★★★

ALAS, still no date for our North East Memorial Stone service. This is due to our being unable to find a suitable site. However, Mike Reid and our Canon Nicholas Frayling, will no doubt sort this out so that the serv ice can take place before very long.

★

★★★★★★

OUR home solicitor Mr Mark Mildred writes to tell us that after more than twenty very rewarding years in private prac tice, he has decided to accept, with great enthusiasm, an invitation from the Nottingham Law School to become a Professor of Litigation on a half time basis as from 1st August this year. As a result of this Mark is retiring from his present partnership forthwith. Again, as from August 1st, he will be working the other half of the week In London as a consultant in the complex field of litigation, partly by way of regular commitment and partly on a piecework basis. It goes without saying that we all wish him well and every success. “All the best Prof!”

★

★★★★★★

NUCLEAR testing is to re-commence, albeit underground. But they still cause death, destruction, mutations and the French Government have no right to ignore worldwide wishes for testing to be stopped. We must support and admire the efforts of Greenpeace on this subject. What a brave army France must have? What was it -150 trained commandos to board Greenpeace’s Rainbow Warrior with tear gas etc knowing full well the ship crewed by 15 unarmed men and women. No doubt all these commandos and their C.O. will now have an audience with President Chirac to receive medals for bravery. Both Ken McGinley and Sheila Gray have written to President Chirac and Prime Minister Keating of Australia on behalf of the Association.

★

★★★★★★

FINALLY, this is your magazine.Our grateful thanks to J Walter Thompson & Company of London and Peter Wylde of the HELP Lottery who so kindly finance its production. We hope to have your next one out in time for Christmas. Do we have your full address and post code? If not please let Chris Rowlands know immediately. Until the next time God Bless and keep fighting.

Peter Fletcher L

PICTORIAL LOOK AT OUR TRIP TO CANADA

ABOVE: Some of the delegates from Canada, Australia, Great Britain and the United States with members of the Lethbridge Royal Canadian Legion when they went to Lethbridge, Canada, in June this year.

ABOVE: Ken McGinley presents a BNTVA plaque to the President of the “General Stewart Branch No 4” of the Royal Canadian Legion, Dave Rossiter. Also pictured are Gil Poirer, 2nd President, and our Peter Fletcher.

A LIFE OF HELL! ETRICS Emmanuel Rougier was the son of a distinguished French family. In the year 1864 he left France to become a Priest missionary in the Pacific. At the time he was owner of Fanning, Washington and Christmas Island’s for £70,000 and he bought the leasehold of Christmas Island for £10,000 from the Levers Pacific Plantations. He registered his company as Central Pacific Coconut Plantations Limited at London with an 87 year licence to occupy in return for a £100 royalty annually. When resident at Christmas Island, Father Rougier had a cottage close to the passage Into the lagoon near Port London. It was named Kaihan and later renamed Paris. When he bought the lease there were about 17,000 coconut trees and between 1915-1936 a further 568,000 trees were planted of which 400,000 survived. Father Rougier was a bit of a tyrant and had bad relations with his import ed labourers, many of whom were

remembered working on a biscuit and rice ration which was still expected to be eaten when rotten and full of wee vils. He died In 1975. In October 1919, the British cruiser, HMS New Zealand, with Admiral Jellicoe aboard, stopped at Christmas island on Its return passage from a trip round the world. English had then been 14 months awaiting his pick-up, which he had been promised In 40 days. The landing party was met by English brandishing a revolver. He wore shorts matched up with a nice bag. He thought the New Zealand was a German ship and had no idea the war was over. The irony was that although he had no clothes left, no soap or other necessities, he did have three automo biles with plenty of fuel. This last part of its history interests me as my father was the Chief Stoker Petty Officer on the New Zealand and I was a Marine Engineer on HMS Salvictor for the 1957 nuclear tests. G Lee (BNTVA Member)

Chinese. Complaints were made to the British Consul in Tahiti. Eventually, in 1917, the island was brought into the boundaries of the Gilbert and Ellis Islands. This immedi ately brought the employment of labour under British Government con trol. Many Chinese workers, along with a Tahitian named Pakol, were hospi talised with injuries, including a broken jaw caused by Rougiers American Manager, a Joe Bannister English. In 1918 the Company’s 135-ton Schooner, The Isabel, struck rocks off Christmas Island and was so badly damaged it was sold off to a French firm. By August 29th, 1918, all labour was withdrawn from the island, apart from English, a French youth and a Tahitian, who were to be picked up in 40 days. The British Government refused Rougier a request for labour from the Gilbert Islands because his treatment of workers had reached British ears. One native named Rakoroa Bobike, who had been a foreman on the island,

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servicemen in the Garden of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony at The Cenotaph in London.

British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association (1992) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Ken McGinlcy 12 Walpole Place Johnston Renfrewshire PAS ORE Tel: 01505-704936 VICE-CHAIRMAN: Peter Fletcher “Monte Bello” 134 Clipslcy Lane II aydock SLHelens WA11 0UB Tel: 01744-29636 SECRETARY: Sheila Gray (Mrs) 11 Grosmont Drive Billingham Cleveland TS23 2EP Tel: 01642-559903

TREASURER: Bill Kittscn 28 Westover Green Branilcy, Leeds LS13 3SO Tel: 0113-2360703

Mike Reid 70 Rochdale Road Rcdhouse Estate Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 0191-549-7620

SOLICITOR: Mark Mildred 67 Sisters Avenue London SW11 5SW TEL: 0171-228-1321

Mike Doyle 14 Exeter Gardens Stamford, Lines PE9 2RN Tel: 01780-65622

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Chris Rowlands 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool LI 1 1HII Bobbie Brewster (Mrs) 61 Cedar Road, Hylhe Southampton S04 6PS Tel: 01703-844489

Ken Taylor 56 Eastbourne Road Stratford, London E15 Tel: 0181-555-2644 CHAPLAIN: Rcv.Nicholas Frayling Rector of Liverpool Liverpool Parish Church Old Church Yard Liverpool

BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES Mike Reid (N E England) 70 Rochdale Road, Rcdhousc Estate, Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 0191-549-7620

Peter and Gron Williams (South Wales), 27 Hcol Myrddin, Ffairfach, Llandcilo SA19 6PD Tel: 01558-822141

John Lowe (Manchester) 45 Sheldrake Road, Broadhcath, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5LJ TEL: 0161-941-2164

Dave Riley (Portsmouth) 190 Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth P04 8LE Tel: 01705-735669

Peter Bullen (North and Mid Wales) Penlan Mill Cottage, Llandegai, Bangor, Gwynnd LLS7 4LG Tel: 01248-352708 Tom Kitching (Humberside) 5 Ellcrby Grove, Preston Road, Hull HU9 3PR Tel: 01482-793082 Chris Rowland (Liverpool) 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool Lll 1HH Archie Ross (West Mids) 230 Burton Road, Woodville, Nr Burton-on-Trcnt Staffs DEI 17JR Tel: 01283-222113 Noel Hendy (Devon & Cornwall) 2 Bowdens Row West End, Redruth Cornwall TR15 2TS Tel: 01209-214814

Ken Taylor (London) 56 Eastbourne Road, Stratford, London E15 Tel: 0181-555-2644 Bernard Canovan (Lancashire) 18 Bog Heights Road, Darwin, Lancs BB3 0AW Tel: 01254-771499 Bobbie Brewster (Mrs) (Southampton) 61 Cedar Road, Hytlie, Southampton S04 6PS Tel: 01703-844489 John Cole (Sth Cheshirc/North Staffs) 5 Byron Close, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 1JT Tel: 01270-589980 Derek Heaps (East Midlands) 4 Bakcwell Drive, Castle Donnington Derby DE7 2NF Tel: 01332-811429

Paul Rowlcs (Kent) 4 Huntsmans Close, Rochester, Kent ME1 2RD Tel: 01634-828827 Ken Lcyland (Canada) 8840 Douglas Street, Box 2121, Port Hardy, BC Canada, Vori-2PO Pat Hurley (Milton Keynes) 24 Caxton Road, Old Wolvcrton, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK12 50PG TEL: 01908-313024 A M Loudon (Scotland) 18 McLelland Drive, Kilmarnock, Scotland KA1 1SE Tel: 01563-43731 Jim Crossan (Australia) 86 Waygara Avenue, Green Valley New South Wales 2168, Australia Andrew Blosse (Sussex) 136 Timber Mill Southwatcr, Horsham West Sussex RH13 7SR Tel: 01403-732218 WIDOWS REPRESENTATIVE Mrs Mavis Gardner, 30 Link Road,Austcy, Leicester LE7 7BW Tel: 0116-2364737

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