september 1997

mm September! 997

MAGAZINE

Meet the Committee

DIANA Princess of Wales

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he picture on the right was taken at the Annual General Meeting last year and shows members of the BNTVA Executive Committee.

Pictured, from left to right, are: Back Row: Chris Rowlands, Mike Reid, Ken Taylor and Mike Doyle.

Front row: Bill Kittsen, Peter Fletcher MBE, Ken McGinley and Sheila Gray.

Inset: Bobbie Brewster.

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•• 1/j 1 A £\ PHOTOGRAPH BY: Georgina Ravenscroft

The officers.

Committee and Members of the BNTVA, extend our sincerest condolences to the Royal Family and the Spencer Family.

With, deepest sympathy at the tragic loss of Princess Diana.

CASH CRISIS IS ^■.OOMING

I Treasurers Report By Bill Kittsen

OST of us have heard the joke about the man who won £1 million on the football pools and when interviewed by the media he was asked how he would cope with the beg­ ging letters. He replied: “No problem, I will con­ tinue writing them."

We here at the BNTVA have not won the pools or the Lottery, but I am writing this begging letter.

The BNTVA is in dire financial straits and we urgently, very urgently, require funds. At the time of writing we carry just enough to pay the postage to send you this issue of our magazine, approximately £650. Now before anyone jumps the gun and asks where is the £50,000 donated by our dear friend Catherine Cookson, let me explain.

The sum of £800 was specifically donated to purchase fax machines and typewriters and the £50,000 is solely for the continuing of the Database Study at Dundee University led by Sue Rabbitt Roff, with Sue and our Secretary, Sheila Gray, as Trustees.

IT /£ NOT FOR USE IN THE COST.OEBUNNING OUR OWN ASSOCIATION,

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In April, at our Annual General Meeting in Blackpool, it was proposed, seconded and voted in by members present that as from July 1st 1997, subscriptions would be raised from £5 per annum to £10 per annum, Associate subscriptions would remain at £2.50pa. We desperately need you to pay those subscriptions NOW! Past reminders within these pages have resulted in successfully jolting the memory of many members and subs duly followed.

At a rough guess I would say less than HALF our membership pay their annual subscriptions. As the man at

the helm of finances, so to say, I am of the opinion that many members join, pay their first annual subs and think that: “I am a paid up member."

WRONG! They are paid up for that year only. Many members pay up annually without fail. Many send their subs AND a donation. It is these loyal people who keep us going.

PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE, send your subs now. We urgently need them to keep this unique Association of our’s running. Blazer Badges - £15, . Association Ties - £6, Car Stickers - £2 all available. Cheques and Postal Orders payable to BNTVA (1992).

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IF ONLY WE IAD JUNE 1952. Having joined HMS Tracker heavy guard, our own marines on board LST L3522 in Scotland and completed sea and the Aussies on and under the Jetty. trials, we sailed for Chatham where we We also had underwater floodlighting. stayed for a few days loading stores for Most of the junior rates like myself, had our trip to Australia to test Britain's first just turned twenty, the senior rates of atom bomb to be known as "Operation course, old sea dogs who had all seen ser­ Hurricane.” vice during the war years and treated it as Among the stores being loaded was thou­ just another commission where we young­ sands of cans of Me Ewans Beer and sters being all excited with the crossing of boxes of clothing namely, overalls, boots the line and the trip down under, and of and underwear, along with a load of course, the reason why we were there. ("If Cussons baby powder. At least we could only we had known"). all smell nice, if nothing else.

On leaving Freemantle we headed for the The Captain put a note on the ship's daily islands and to meet up with the rest of the orders to the effect MNo, repeat no, pets Squadron, the Aircraft Carrier Campania, allowed on board for this trip”. In those to other Lst's Narvik and Zebrugge plus days every ship had a mascot but this was the frigate HMS Plym. The Plym was being not to be for Tracker. given a coat of paint and she was The loading was completed with a very anchored in a lagoon, even had kedge special object stowed in a big cage on the anchors either side and over the stern.

Mezzanine Deck and this was being The ships companies and the army per­ patrolled by a contingent of Royal Marines sonnel that were there when we aarrived, that had embarked, one of whom lived had prepared the site and installed a big next door to my parents in West tent and a few outbuildings plus of course Hartlepool. a generator and fridge to keep the beer We were granted a short week end and cold for the Naafi. as it was our last chance of leave for a It was very handy as when you were while, we were given a free railway war­ allowed ashore, instead of buying an odd rant. On returning from the week end it can, a couple of you could buy a case, dig was all systems go and we left Chatham, a hole in the sand to keep the case as cool destination Monte Bello Islands off the as possible, just laze in the sun and con­ South West Coast of Australia. sume the beer.

During my time at sea, I was a watchIt didn't have much effect, perhaps that keeper in the port engine room, with a was due to the heat, you no sooner drank it and it leaked out through your skin. petty officer called Charlie Craze, another one from West Hartlepool. It was whilst Once we had anchored, I then worked with the shipwrights as a mate and spent crossing the Bay of Biscay, that the main our time maintaining the ships boats and circulating pump decided to part company any other job that came along. with a piston and of course, caused a Lots of the stores being unloaded and slight problem. transported ashore or to the boffins on the At this time, it was noticed that we had Plym. Spare time was spent fishing or an two stowaways on board namely, two cats, odd game of volley ball. We seemed to so when the signal was sent to inform the attract a lot of sharks around the stern, no admiralty of the damage to the pump doubt due to the gash shute being situated another signal was sent in regards to the there. cats.

I was going to say about all the food that We were ordered to dock at Gibraltar the chef ditched, but on looking back the where a pump would be taken from a food wasn’t too bad. Mind after your tot, frigate and fitted so as we would not have one would eat anything. too big a delay.

The mood on board started to change On docking, we received a signal order­ and you would hear the boffins referring to ing the two cats to be placed under stop­ D plus so many days and we all realised page of leave whilst the ship was in our true mission to Monte Bello was com­ Gibraltar and from then on, the larger one ing towards its climax. to be known as Billy and the smaller one D Plus 1 and the Campania and the other Bunts. two Lst's sailed and anchored in their allo­ Having left Gibraltar, on through the Med cated positions. The Plym of course, was to Malta and Suez then we hit a spot of well and truly anchored in the lagoon with rough weather and started taking in water the bomb within the ship. through the bow doors. The next few days The next morning an LCA from Tracker we proceeded stem first Into Colombo and went to the Plym and took oft the last of the bow doors were welded up. Of f again the crew and brought them back to us. and onto Freemantle.

Once on board, it was up and anchor and On docking, the ship was put under

sail to a place of safety not too far away.

Dr Penney and his team were on the TH Campania which was floating around on the Horizon. As zero hour approached, lower deck was cleared and mustered on the upper deck everyone was having a good look at the Plym, her paint work look­ ing good in the morning sunlight.

The night before, I had written a 25 page letter to my girlfriend and I started to think if anything did go wrong, my letter was still aboard ship.

At last the Captain took charge and told us what was to happen, we would all turn our backs to the Plym and if wearing spec­ tacles, remove them.

Close our eyes and cover them with our hands, one over the other and not remove them till told to do so. So everyone turned their backs on HMS Plym "eyes shut, cover your eyes” was the order.

Shortly afterwards the bomb was deto­ nated and the first we knew was the bril­ liant light showing up the bone structure of our hands through our closed eyes.

Next was the intense heat on our backs, bearing in mind some of us had overalls on, the rest just shirts and shorts, then the whole ship shook with the blast and the Captain was counting down from ten. Thin in his clear voice he was heard to say: "I dont know if we are in heaven or hell but you can now turn round and look”.

The best way to describe it I suppose, would be to say it was like a giant water spout being sucked up into the sky, it seemed everything in the lagoon was going upwards. The poor sea birds they seemed to be trying to get the fish as they were being sucked up but as they got clos­ er, up they went as well.

Tracker started moving closer and com­ menced firing rockets into the rising cloud of debris after so many rounds we moved out of the area and dropped anchor. The Plym had been vaponsed.

For the rest of the day we all just looked skywards and watched this cloud starting to disperse, there was supposed to be no wind but you could see the cloud moving and giving the same picture as the vapour trail of a modern jet.

During the first night after the detonation (more like three in the morning) the engi­ neer came round waking us up, panic sta­ tions, we had to move the ship as radioac­ tive dew was falling on the ship. This became a regular occurrence in the weeks to come.

If It wasn't dew coming down it was the sea water contamination setting of the alarms. Anyhow, day two and teams went ashore looking for items of interest, the main item they were searching for was the

rockets as in their nose cones special cam­ eras had been installed. The teams had new overalls and underwear given to them to wear everywhere they went ashore along with sea boots and a mailbag.

This was to carry back the rockets and anything else of interest. On arrival back the items were checked by the boffins, the Gieger counters being big boxes in those days. If the reading was high, the object was kept to one side, any camera was opened, film removed and the cameras and rockets and clothing that had been worn was placed in old oil drums.

These were filled with concrete. When we had enough these drums were loaded onto an Australian ship and taken out and sank in deep water. The drums that is, not the ship.

Looking back at times, the Trackers upper deck was like a builders yard. Sand, chippings, cement and a couple of cement mix­ ers. After the first radio active times were brought back and laid on the upper deck. By order of a signal from Admiralty, the two cats Billy and Bunts were to be allowed to roam amongst radio active material. The landing craft suffered a lot of damage on coral and rocks and we kept busy repairing small holes with copper tingles etc. The boats had been in the water and here we were not even using gloves in close contact with radiation.

So much for John Spellers remarks regarding stringent safety measures being

used. The safety measures at Monte Bello (Operation Hurricane) are the only ones I can remember. We wore sea boots ashore to protect us from standing on stone fish.

Over the next three weeks we carried on looking for any possible bits of Plym or any­ thing of interest, as well as recovering some of our stores The Naafi had a lot of cans of beer ashore which had gone through the test and the price per can was reduced to 9d (3v£ new pence). If you went fishing and managed to get a catch, they were few and far between.

The boffins would give you a can of beer for each fish. Billy the cat was taken ill and an RAF surgeon was called on board. After a small operation he recovered and resumed his duties inspecting radioactive material.

On one occasion, a whale was spotted just drifting, it was still alive but only just, After a bit of manouevring the ship had it alongside and a scientist went over the side to stand on the whale and, with what I should imag­ ine was a scalpel, removed a section to be sent back to the UK Well, 28 days after the vaporisation of HMS Plym, the Squadron left the islands and returned to Freemantle. Once Tracker was out at sea, the port anchor, which had a very high radio active reading, was let go and lost in deep water.

Another point of interest was that once the ship was at sea Bunts the cat developed a habit of jumping up at the ensign on the

quarter deck swinging round the staff and dropping on to the deck.

Well, it was bound to happen, and Bunts fell into the sea. The ship stopped and a couple of boats were lowered. After a cou­ ple of hours or so a signal was sent to Admiralty regrettably reporting the loss of Bunts.

That incident sticks clearly in my mind as when I had my leave in 1953 I was sent to a ship in Korea and whilst there a spotter plane ditched in the sea. After half an hour's search, the pilot was presumed lost.

On arrival back in the UK, the Tracker was decommissioned and used a as a canteen boat for dockyardies.

I was 20 years and 4 months at the time of the test. I have had a few minor ail­ ments, but over the last few years I have suffered from breathing problems, lost 60% of my vision and am now awaiting an oper­ ation on my left eye. I also have high blood pressure and on seeing my GP I was told it was down to ageing My heart goes out to the one's who have really suffered I look upon myself as one of the luckier one's. I am now drawing my old age pension and I hope I can do so for many years to come.

G.W.SCOTT RN, Rtd 9 Nicholson Road Crownhill, Plymouth PL5 3BR Telephone: 01752-781030

See If you can spot yourself?

John Neal, RAF, took this photograph of you all from the Airfield Buffet. Do you recognise yourself?

John worked on the Airfield Telephone Exchange and was also the barber. He had a ‘salon’ in a tent near the Airfield so I am sure you will remember him.

If you do, how about contacting him. As he is confined to a wheelchair, he cannot get around to meetings so would like to hear from you. His details are:John Neal, 50 Birkdale, Brant Road, Lincoln LN5 9UJ. Tel: 01522-722378.

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GAS CHIMBS: The

During 1957 whilst serving as a Regular soldier at 39 Base Workshop REME.Bicester,Oxfordshire I read a spe­ cial notice on Part Two Orders concern­ ing a forthcoming Physiological Gas Course to be held at RAMC Porton Down,Wiltshire, lasting one week.

Volunteers for participation in this Course were invited to register their names in the Company Office forthwith.and special conditions were offered plus an extra 28 shillings pay and a 48 hour pass at the end of the Course as incentives.

I volunteered immediately just to get away from Bicester for a week,as it really was a bad place to be stationed.And there were some fourteen others from Bicester Garrison who had managed to get their names down in time.REME Craftsmen,RE Sappers,and some RAOC storemen."What does physiological mean?" asked one.

On arrival at Porton Down we discovered to our joy that the food and catering

BY SUE RABBITT ROFF

arrangements were exellent.The resturant was clean and pleasant,there were no long queues of men at meal times,and we had two female cooks who catered for us only !

These ladies were such a welcome change from the sour-faced Army cooks we had become used to,and this place so different from Nissen Hut Cookhouse at Bicester with its poorly cooked rations.

These ladies would greet us all with a smile at breakfast asking how did we like our eggs cooked.hard or soft boiled ! And we were allowed more than one egg each !

There were separate tables for four set with clean table cloths,cutlery,and condiments.Tea was served to us in cups and saucers instead of the undersize potties we normally used.

There were no parades.no Guard Duties or fatigues to spoil the dream. We had a TV Room and a smart snooker room which would have graced an Officers Mess. (My family did'nt have a

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TV until two years later).Why on earth was the Army being so kind to us ? What was so special about this Course ?

We did'nt have long to wait to find out.

We were put into humid Hot Rooms with temperatures of eighty degrees Farenheight and made to step up and down onto wooden benches for ten min­ utes.Then stop for five minutes then start again. This went on and on. RAMC doc­ tors and staff were present monitoring our rates of perspiration and heart rates and so on.

MUSTARD GAS This was applied in small drops to the inside of our forearms which immediately caused a blister to form. These were noted by the ever-present doctors. I still have the scars.

GAS CHAMBERS On the second or third day we were split into two groups.I was in the second group. The first group were put in a sealed gas chamber whilst a "Nerve Gas" as we were told, was pumped in over a

Latest report on our important Research Project

THE Research Project (funded by Dame Catherine Cookson’s generous donation announced at the AGM in April) for under­ way in July when I was able to take up the half time Senior Research Fellowship at Dundee University.

With Sheila’s help, I initiated the Death ' \ Certificate Study of about 450 members whose families have supplied these docu­ ments. This took most of July and August and the results will be featured in the BBC Frontline programme in late October which Ken is closely associated with.

The report has now also been sent to a a major acknowledgement of the weak­ medical journal. I expect the findings will nesses of the earlier studies help the Strasbourg cases by establishing There is no commitment yet to any fur­ the unfortunate patterns of premature deaths ther research by the Government, from cancers of far too many nuclear veteralthough talks are in progress with ans.

Glasgow University.

The next study will be of the Health Status With your co-operation in the studies I of members and their families and you am undertaking, we will have a clear list should receive your questionnaire in of concerns to present to any future October. This will look into members, their researchers which will require quite dif­ children and grandchildren. ferent methodologies than those used by These studies are 'hypothesis-generating' the first NRPB/MoD studies. studies that will identify the issues and con­ This work should of course have been cerns that should be looked at with other methodologies. done a decade or more ago, but at least The announcement by the NRPB and MoD this time we will have precisely formulatthat, far from erasing the database of the ed questions which the Government can1980’s study, they will maintain and update not duck. the database for the foreseeable future, was Meanwhile the fact that the NRPB/MoD

have acknowledged the need to update the database knocks the central plank from the Government’s defence in Strasbourg that the studies have been ‘thorough’ and shown no ‘detectable’ hazard from participation in the tests.

This has been a major achievement for all veterans and their families on Sheila’s part.

With any luck, we will have a positive decision from Strasbourg in a few weeks just as clear guidelines begin to emerge from this Research Project for eligibility for compensation beyond the three test cases.

Thank you all for your help and please return the questionnaire as soon as pos­ sible after you receive them.

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Ponton Down experiment period of about two hours. The effects of this gas on the men inside was observed from the outside of the chamber by a group of doctors and students looking in through a large window at the front of the Gas Chamber.

Later that day the second group with me in it had our turn,only this time the same amount of Nerve Gas was pumped in but over a much shorter period of about twenty minutes.It’s effect on us was

gambler, I was losing money but thought it all very funny. I felt exhilarated, light headed,and couldn't focus my eyes properly.Looking round I could see the Lieutenant Colonel at a desk writing notes in a ledger,and as if through a mist I could see the faces of the onlookers outside peering in at us.

What was in that gas which made disci­ plined soldiers behave in such a way ? It ruined our eyesight for several days after­

immediate and dramatic.

On taking my first breath of this gas I found I couldn’t breathe.lt was as if a steel band had been clamped around my chest.The RAMC lieutenant colonel in with us who wore a respirator came over to me as I fell to my knees.

He said that the choking effect was only temporary and that it would pass. We were permitted to do anything in there exept smoke.

We played cards with the pack provided and very quickly began acting silly laugh­ ing at nothing and behaving very foolishly as if suddenly quite drunk. Never a

wards.

EYE PUPILS The pupils of our eyes shrank to pinhead size and stayed like it for three whole days.Exposure to light caused intense pain and discomfort.

To strike a match and light one's own cigarette was impossible,so we endeav­ oured to light each other's fags by turning our heads away,shutting our eyes tightly,then striking the match and holding it at arms length to avoid it's horrible glare.

The other fellow screwed his own eyes shut, put the cigaratte in his mouth and

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diers do,but there was nothing funny about it. It was quite frightening not to be able to focus your eyes and any light hurt them.

We weren't capable of doing much after this but we had good food and comfort­ able billets so we made the best of it.(We lived in damp Nissen huts at Bicester).

On the last day a civilian doctor spoke to us thanking us for volunteering for the Course and saying: "They" the medical people wouldn’t be able to carry out experiments or do any proper research without men like us."Well Done" etc.

Then back to our Units with a plaster on each arm,a weekend pass,the promise of an extra twenty eight shillings,and eyes oversensitive to light. Mine still are.

Richard Bonas Porthallow. Briahtwalton Green. Nr Newbury, Berkshire RG20 7BH

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John Cole and Terry Crundwell were members of the 63 Squadron 38 Regiment’s win­ ning football team in 1958. I would like anyone in the photo to get in touch with me on 01482354722.

Very sadly Tiny Robinson and

Alan Arnold are no longer with us, but do you recognise any­ one?

Left to right: CpI Packard (linesman), Scotty Dakers, Tiny Robinson, Alan Arnold, Jim Upton (keeper), Harry Pinder, John Cole, Sgt.Lees (linesman),

George Perry (manager), Tommy Thompson, George Petty, Brummy Wall.

Although not in the photo, our Chairman, Kenny McGinley, took pari in many matches on Christmas Island.

John Cole

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B.N.T.V.A. N0T8C1 BOARD T

HERE are eight places remaining for our trip'to the European Court of Human Rights in November. Seats have been reserved for us in the court so that we can give the “Champions For Our Cause" all the support we can.

A luxury coach will depart from the House of Commons at 0730am on Monday 24th November, drive to Dover, ferry to Calais, then drive to Strasbourg (with as many stops as necessary). Three nights bed and break­ fast at the Ibis Hotel in Strasbourg with the second day free to do as we like. The trip home is on Thursday 27th November with suitable hangovers after celebrating what we are sure we hope and pray will be a success­ ful outcome of the three cases that the Government must at long last give honest and truthful answers to. The price is £110.00 all in and anybody interested please contact 6erek Fiddaman on 01306-876617 (day­ time).

AN you help? Copies of the mldPaciflc News as published on Christmas Island from 1st August 1956 until the 1960’s are wanted. All expenses will be paid. Please contact Noel Hendy, 2 Bowdens Row, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 2TS. Telephone: 01209214814.

HANKS to all those members who pur­ chased the Association and Grapple plaques at the annual general meeting in Blackpool last April. Once again I had not taken enough of them to satisfy the demand and had to take orders which I have now posted to the people concerned.

I can now take orders by post or telephone for a choice of framed badges or mounted on wooden shields. The price - £8.00 per pair (matching) Association and Grapple plus £1.00 post and packing for framed version.

The shield mounted one’s are £10.00 per pair (matching) Association and Grapple plus £1.00pp. Individual copies can also be ordered. Please state which particular plaque and style is required. Cheques should be made payable to Sid Hardwick and sent to 20 Edinburgh Road, Portsmouth P01 1DE. Tel: 01705-822865.

UCLEAR Bomb Tests: Matt Clapham of 9 Aston Place, Richmond/Nelson, New Zealand, Is seeking Information to assist him in his pension claim as a result of III health due to nuclear bomb tests.

He want8 anyone who remembers being present for a test explosion In the area of Christmas Island and/or anyone who served In HMS Devonshire 1945-50, HMS Loch Insh 1950-52 or HMS Euryalus 195354 to write to him.

MS Narvik Grapple Squadron Reunion - Christmas Island from 1956-1959.

Date of the third Reunion is 9th May 1998. The first and second reunions were a tremendous sucess so if you are interested contact Rod Jenkins, 33 Paston Ridings, Paston, Peterborough PE4 7UR. His tele­ phone number is 01733-751019.

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WOULD like to thank Peter and Liz Walker of the West Midlands branch for all they have done for me over the past few years and transporting me to and from Hosker Royal Naval Hospital.

Nothing has been too much trouble for them and my thanks also extend to Brian Chamberlain for filling In when Peter and Liz were not available. To the whole of the West Midlands branch, my sincere gratitude.

Vic Jones, Flat 1-146 Court Lane, Erdington, Birmingham.

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ANY thanks to all officers and mem­ bers of BNTVA for all the kindess and support shown over the sad loss of my dear wife Peggy. Well over one hundred people attended the funeral and cards and letters of sympathy were received from all over the country and as far afield as Poland.

My family and I are overwhelmed by the love and human understanding shown by all con­ cerned.

Albert ‘Nobby’ Clarke 109 Finstall Road, Finstall Nr Bromsgrove, Worcester.

ABOVE: Vice-Chairman Peter Fletcher proudly receives his Papal Blessing award from Sheila Gray (Secretary) at the AGM.

have recently received formal confirmation from Attorney Ian Anderson that he will argue the New Zealand Test veterans case at the forthcoming legal action In Strasbourg. May I extend our sincere thanks for the assis­ tance and generosity shown to us by BNTVA In enabling us to reach this point.

A special thanks to Sheila Gray, BNTVA’s Secretary, for her great help and patience in dealing with our queries.

To our UK Test Veteran comrades, best of luck for a successful action.

Roy Sefton, Chairman New Zealand ABOVE: Sussex rep Andrew Blosse (left) with Jim Cooper (centre) and Nuclear Test other Christmas Island BNTVA enjyoying the AGM. Veterans Association.

ORTY years ago in February 1957, the Aircraft Carrier HMS Warrior left Portsmouth with 650 men on board. It headed into gale-lashed seas on the first leg to Christmas Island to be the flagship and operational headquarters for ‘Operation Grapple’, the code name for the Malden Island Nuclear Tests.

On May 15th, 1957, HMS Warrior was in position approximately 25 miles off Malden Island as Britain’s first nuclear bomb was dropped by the RAF to be exploded some 5000ft above the island. The ships crew , wearing No 8’s and anti-flash hood gloves, sat on the deck, backs to the biast and eyes shut tight. After a short spell they were allowed to turn and see the awesome spectacle.

Two further tests were carried out in May and June following which Warrior had a stay in Pearl Harbouer for bow repairs sustained during bad weather upon leaving Portsmouth fol­ lowed by a flag trip home via South America.

Were you there? If so are you interested in the formation of a reunion association. Please contact John Carr (ex-E.M.(air)) at 91 Westley Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham B27 7UW. Telephone: 0121-684-4964.

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PADDY, ME ah in

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E had endured the agony of Christmas Island for ten months now and still had another two to go before the full year was up when we would be posted else­ where, Me to Malaysia and Paddy back to the UK It would have been in October 1959, exactly one year since the last H Bomb Tests had been carried out at South East Point (*) that the information declaring this Bomb Site to be an Open Area and safe to visit was contained in Part Two Orders and displayed for all to read. It was compulsory to read “Orders” daily and God help any man who didn’t.

So, one evening soon after, Paddy and me took a truckup to this safe area to have a look at what H Bombs could do. Arriving at South East Point and looking round there wasn’t much TO see really, except some rusting, twisted scaffolding poles, the remains of what had been some sort of, platform and a burnt out generator or two and Army vehicles in a similar condition.

I did notice however that the whole area was slightly ‘dished’ with low ridges running out from the centre of the dish, rather like as if a giant’s hands

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f This article was submitted by Richard Bonas of Porthallow, Brightwalton Green, Nr Newbury, Reading RG20 7BH Telephone: 01488-638572 had scarped out a shallow depression and left small ridges where his fingers had scraped outwards from the centre point.....Strange!

Also, any small bushes left were stunt­ ed and blackened as if from fire. More interesting to us as we walked round dressed in boots, socks, shorts and floppy hats was the variety of strangely mis-shapen pieces of rocks with unusu­ al colours of metallic greens, blues, yel­ lows etc. which we in our innocence picked up and studied closely saying things like “Look at this one, see what a funny colour it’s gone.” Cor, yes, so it has." And so on.

There were no notices to warn the unwary. There was no concrete cover­ ing of the area and the site was not fenced off. It was an Open Area and safe to walk on. Part Two Orders had said so hadn’t they? Who were we to question Orders?

Of course we knew that "Radiation" was bad and could make a man sterile there were plenty of jokes about that on the Island. But we were told that the

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Send for your Xmas catalogue now OYAL British Legion Industries Limited have writ­ ten to the BNTVA and sent us their 1997 Christmas catalogue.

The catalogue, ‘SupplyLines’, is the mail order arm of Royal British Legion Industries Limited, the providers of work and support for disabled ex-servicemen and women and their families for over 75 years.

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As well as acting as the official suppliers of Legion regalia to over 600,000 mem­ bers nationwide, ‘SupplyLines' also offer a wide range of military memorabilia and promotional goods, much of which can be personalised or engraved in their own workshops and then sent direct by mail to the serving and ex-serving community throughout the UK and overseas.

There are various services and products available as well as a wide range of cere-

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doses were so small as to be "quite harmless" and we believed it. So much so that it wasn’t until the late 1970’s whilst talking to an experienced senior member of The Royal Observer Corps, whose main task would be to measure radiation and nuclear fallout in the event of a nuclear war, that I began to realise the ernormity of what Paddy and I had done. Many others too no doubt.

I then related these events to the solemn-faced ROC officer who listened carefully and replied: “You must have had a massive dose of radiation Richard."

What does this Bomb Site look like now? Is it fenced off? Are there warning notices erected to keep people away?

Is the whole area under several feet of concrete as it should be? I for one would be very interested to know. *NOTE: / am not certain that the last Test Area was actually at South East Point, so if any reader wishes to put the record straight please do so. Sorry, but I cannot recall Paddys surname, but I do recall he was an Ulsterman and about my age of 21.

monial regalia including standard bearer equipment; badges of office; certificates and trophies; regimental blazer buttons and ties; as well as many other essential items of kit which the RBLI already provide to their own formations and officers.

If you wish to obtain a FREE copy of the catalogue and any additional Christmas catalogues, why not call them on 01622717202/718477 or fax them on 01622717464.

CHAIRMANS REPORT 1 TS fortunate that instead of learning with hindsight, we took the initiative four years ago and made application to the European Court of Human Rights, as we were being denied, at every opportunity, our moral and legal right to openly challenge the British Government on neutral ground.

Why are the new Government vigorously contesting us in the same manner as the previous adminis­ tration? This is a collective British Government cover-up and in the past fourteen years we have unwit­ tingly re-written the British Nuclear Test Programme.

If you recall. Lorna Arnold wrote the book “A very friendly Relationship” (funded by the M.O.D.), giving the clean, stiff upper-lip version of events with selective documentation and quotes. The Veterans and Widows recollection of events were not included. It was the veterans who suffered and the unfortunate widow had no place to turn for help.

It’s now just three months to Strasbourg and the N.R.P.B. have announced they will now update the study as the M.O.D. will fund it for a further two years. You may call me cynical, but I trust none of the two afore-mentioned.

Mr John Speller. MP. (M.O.D.). is now saying that we were not participants. We went to Christmas Island to help with the construction of the island. Is it any wonder that the forces are having problems with recruiting new young men? Maybe a new motto should be put up in the Recruiting Offices: “Joining the British Forces Can Damage Your Health.”

Congratulations to Derek (Del Boy) Fiddaman for arranging the coach to Strasbourg. I believe there are still around seven empty seats if anyone wants one.

Let’s look forward to Strasburg with confidence, pride and. most of all, a decision which, we knew after May 1st (1977 General Election), we could not achieve in our own country.

KEN McGINLEY

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When you need us, we’ll be there.

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t is sensible and practical to plan now for your funeral. With a Co-operative Funeral Bond you can tailor-make funeral arrangements at today’s prices.

No further costs will be incurred regard­ less of when the funeral takes place. So when your loved ones need us, we’ll be there. For peace of mind call us on FREEPHONE 0800 289120

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FUNERALS

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Book Reviews MEGATON MORNINGS bv Charles

Hall: This book is about his experiences on Christmas Island and it is for sale at £5 per copy post paid. It can be obtained direct from Charles at Chase Cottage. The Chase. Ashingdon, Essex SS4 3JE (Telephone: 01702-201659). Charles will be pleased to donate £ 1 from every book purchased to the BNTVA funds.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND - THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME By Jim Haggas.

This has been written by one of our own members and makes very Interesting reading. The author hopes it will enable him to meet up with his colleagues men­ tioned in the book and sincerely hopes you will contact him. The book is pub­ lished by Minerva Press and can be pur­ chased, price £4.99, from: Jim Haggas. 7 Batters by Close. Yarm. Stockton.

Cleveland TS 15 9RX. Telephone: 01642784357

Greetens worn Darzet Wev bin on Darzet clifftops Looked on luvly coves below Watched ilia zhips vrom other waters Buzy goin’ to and vro

Rugged beaches, caves an inlets Girt arched rock ov durdlc door Mcakes ce think ov many a zmugglcr Luggin loot up on tha zhore Nowadaays tiz lobster catchin Do cc vancy oonc vor tea Anywaay I guess that darzets Jist the plcacc vor ec ta zee.

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HE Veterans Festival was the brain­ child of Harry Young’s and took place at Weymouth on Sunday, June 15. I am so pleased the Association got involved.

Weymouth stood to attention when the resorts annual International Military and Veterans Festival began a week of spec­ tacular entertainment.

On the Saturday, vintage military jeeps, ambulances and trucks set off in convoy for a procession through the borough to Portland and back.

Visitors on the harbour had a chance to see the coastal steam passenger and cargo ship, SS Shieldhall, huntclass minehunter, SS Middleton, and Sea Cadet train­ ing ship, TS Appleby.

The afternoon saw a spectacular beach assault in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 people who gasped with delight as members of 9 Parachute Regiment (Royal Engineers) and 59 Independent Commando Squadron, stormed forward in a demonstration. Then there was a bridge building race by the 74 Independent Reid Squadron based in Northern Ireland.

The Royal Navy personnel from HMS

Embassy in London.

This was followed by the touching service of remembrance with wreath laying at the British American Cenotaphs. The bidding was read by the Mayor’s Chaplain, the Rev. Michael Stear, and the Act of Remembrance was led by Vice Marshall Sir John Newman, KCB. Last Port and Reveilles were by the buglers of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Band and the National Anthem was played by the band of the Devonshire and Dorset regiment. The fly past was a Fairey Swordfish followed by a flight of Lynex Helicopters from HMS Osprey.

The sun shone down on our very proud men and after fall out, they all disappeared like a shot for their richly deserved refresh­ ments and never to be seen again.

All in all it was a fantastic week. Thanks must go to Harry Young’s son who is man­ ager of the Department of Leisure, Entertainment and Tourism at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. We have already booked up for next year’s Military Week.

BY BOBBIE BREWSTER Osprey on Portland, were kept busy all day trying to put old friends and comrades back in touch through their computer base vet link. They took a wealth of information.

One old soldier, when asked his service number, snapped to attention and rattled it off, only for his wife to reveal that he had just recited his telephone number instead.

Saturday evening ended with a 1940’s Big Band dance featuring USA Cincsouth NATO Band Alliance from Naples and Italy and the pipes and drums of the Devonshire and Dorset regiment.

Sunday saw the massive parade which included more than 80 historic and modern military vehicles, eight bands, marching contingents, and more than 1,850 Standards. We had approximately twenty veterans and two Standards taking part.

Taking the salute was Royal Naval Association National President, Vice Marshall, Sir John Newman, accompanied

by HMS Osprey Captain, John Harvey, Weymouth and Portland Mayor Cllr Bob Beare, and Lt.Colonel David Higgins of the US Army and representatives of the US

CHRISTMAS ISLAND^sr VETERANS REUNION 1997

□ Full board in doubfeftwln chalets with en-suita

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Welcome to Sand Bay Holiday Village for our third reunion since 1993. The reunion offers a marvel­ lous opportunity for our veterans of all services and their families who served on Christmas Island during 1956-64 to meet up and renew and make new friends.

bathroom and colourTV. □ Tea and coffee making facilities □ Table service □ Sports facilities including indoor swimming pool, short mat bowls, snooker, table tennis and much MUCH more. □ Full programme of day/evening entertainment □ Cabaret, ballroom and sequence dancing □ insurance optional extra at £8 per person

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British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association (1992) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Ken McGinlcy 12 Walpole Place Johnston Renfrewshire PA5 ORE Tel/Fax: 01505-704936 VICE-CHAIRMAN: Peter Fletcher, MBE “Monte Bello” 134 Clipsley Lane Haydock StHelens WA11 0UB Tel: 01744-29636

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SECRETARY: Sheila Gray (Mrs) 11 Grosmont Drive Billingham Cleveland TS23 2EP Tel/Fax: 01642-559903

TREASURER: Bill Kittsen 28 Westover Green Bramley, Leeds LS13 3SO Tel: 0113-2361123

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

SOLICITOR: Mark Mildred 67 Sisters Avenue London SW115SW TEL: 0171-228-1321

Mike Doyle 11 Waveriey Place Stamford, Lines PE9 1BJ Tel: 01780-65622 Ken Taylor 56 Eastbourne Road Stratford, London E15 Tel: 0181-555-2644

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Chris Rowlands 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool Lll 1HH 0151-2566688

CHAPLAIN: Rev.Nicholas Frayling Rector of Liverpool Liverpool Parish Church Old Church Yard, Liverpool

Bobbie Brewster (Mrs) 61 Cedar Road, Hythe Southampton S04 6PS Tel: 01703-844489

BRANCH REPRESENTATIVES Mike Reid (N E England) 70 Rochdale Road, Redhouse Estate, Sunderland SR5 5QQ Tel: 0191-549-7620 John Lowe (Manchester) 45 Sheldrake Road, Broadheath, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5LJ Tel: 0161-941-2164 Peter Bullen (North and Mid Wales) Penlan Mill Cottage, Llandegai, Bangor, Gwynnd LLS7 4LG Tel: 01248-352708 Tom Kitching (Humberside) 5 Ellerby Grove, Preston Road, Hull HU9 3PR Tel: 01482-793082 Chris Rowland (Liverpool) 14 Monksdown Road Liverpool Lll 1HH Tel: 0151-2566688 Archie Ross (West Mlds) 230 Burton Road, Woodville, Nr Burton-on-Trent Staffs DE11 7JR Tel: 01283-222113

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Ken Leyland (Canada) 8840 Douglas Street, Box 2121, Port Hardy, BC Canada, Von-2PO Tel: 001-250-9498914

Noel Hendy (Devon & Cornwall) 2 Bowdens Row, West End, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 2TS Tel: 01209-214814 Peter and Gron Williams (South Wales), 27 Heol Myrddin, Ffairfach, Llandeilo SA19 6PD Tel: 01558-822141 Dave Riley (Portsmouth) 190 Locksway Road, Milton, Portsmouth P04 8LE Tel: 01705-735669 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 John Cole (Sth Cheshire/North Staffs) 5 Byron Close, Crewe, Cheshire CW1 1JT Tel: 01270-589980 Derek Heaps (East Midlands) 4 Bakewell Drive, Castle Donnlngton, Derby DE7 2NF Tel: 01332-811429 Paul Rowles (Kent) 4 Huntsmans Close, Rochester, Kent ME1 2RD Tel: 01634-828827

Pat Hurley (Milton Keynes) 24 Caxton Road, Old Wolverton, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK12 50PG Tel: 01908-313024

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Jim McGowan 125 Whitburn Street 7 Carntyne, Glasgow G32 6RP Tel: 0141-778-6954

V Jim Cross an (Australia) 86 Waygara Avenue, Green Valley, New South Wales 2168, Australia Andrew Blosse (Sussex) “Penrose” Orchard Dell West Chiltington West Sussex RH20 2LB Tel: 01798-812025 George Robertson (West Yorks) 64 Deighton Lane Healy, Batley, Wakefield, West Yorks WF17 7EU Tel: 01924-478301

PICTORIAL JOURNEY DOWN MEMORY LANE

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RIGHT: Sandi on beach patro and about to climb up into the observation tower at the roped-off, approved seaswimming area near the mess. The orders were in bad weather or loss of . rff l.' light, raise the warning flag, get every* one out. Anyone in troible - call the res- <:S'; cue. Anyone swimming outside the area - charge 'em. This duty intensified after one of our men drowned while snorkling round old US Army wrecks.

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ABOVE: ‘CPI's Roy 'Sandi' Sanders (self), ‘Pat’ Hannah and ‘Steve’ Stevens, original inmates of Tent H18 (1957). I remember the food was so poor we all lost v/eight and with dysentry occuring every few days, there was little chance of putting on weight. After the blast all supports to the side of the tent were snapped clean in half - the same throughout the camp.

ABOVE: Sandi, Steve, Pat and Carl (?) at H18. I used to smoke in those days and at one point the US sent us free cigarettes (I think they were Customs seizures made in Hawaii). I got myself 200 Lucky Strike, but someone switched them for a brand I had never heard of.

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Stevens ‘Tiger/ and (?) Richards (camera ow..v and National Serviceman, who, I believe worked In HQ admin.

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ABOVE: Sandi relaxing outside his tent H18.

What I remember was how daft it seemed being asked to remove the small plants and weeds struggling to grow on the coral outside the tent. Some men tried to encourage p\an\s to grow, but were ‘booked’ - a question of keeping up morale. And remember the -like rats that used to run across your more of a nuisance dead than mouse ad to find them before the bed and were i

a\we because you n stench would go.

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LEFT The nature of the soil....

ABOVE: ...and what happens if you try to pull a truck out! The terrain was pretty soft in places and the land crabs used to try and do battle with moving trucks. They also had the habit of going to one place to die; a swampy lagoon on the way to the airfield site.

RIGHT: The NAAFI store. At one point if you asked for anything (like where’s the meat, where’s the veg, where’s the beer), they would say it’s coming on the next ship.

We thought it must have been an elastic ship because it took months to arrive. When the ship did finally come we got paid in British £’s as opposed to Aussie ‘pounds’.

Pictures from Roy ‘Sandi’ Sanders of 14 Hawthorne Close, Kingsbridge, Devon TQ7

VICE-CHAIRMANS REPORT I wnte this report on Monday 8th September, 1997. after a very sad week and week-end following the sad loss of Diana Princess of Wales. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the RoyaJ Family and the Spencer Family. Our sadness was deepened when we learned of the loss of another Angel and friend of Diana, Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Our thoughts and prayers also go out to widows and sick comrades Will our sadness and mourning ever end?

ON our fighting front the situation is very quiet as we await the Strasbourg hearings in November. At our AGM in Apnl there was, I feel, a little extra excitement that the following week would surely bring about a change of Government and a new outlook to our future in the search for Truth, Justice and Pensions. Yes, our prayers were answered . The men and women now in power in Government were the one's who had fought for us and our beliefs long and hard in the days when they were the opposition. Alas, it was not be. It appears those same men and women (not all of them) now thought on the same wavelength as the previous Government. How surprising! How sad! Not to me it wasn't. I truly felt it would emerge as it has but hoped and prayed it would not. Not many years ago I was at the House of Lords prior to our meeting with the M.o.D. and I remarked to one of our peers how good it would be if we had a Labour Government in power to sort things out for us The reply I received shocked me somewhat: "My dear Peter, if we came into power tomorrow, we would face the same problems and denials." Now 1997, at least the new Government has authorised a continuence and update on the controversial NRPB Study. That to me is good news in a sense ’ and I feel we must assist in any way we can. We know we are telling the truth, we were there. We are the one's who are ill and dying. It is our children we can see with their ailments, illnesses and suffering. We have nothing to hide. We just want the truth and justice OVER the past few years we have been asked by certain bodies to drop the motto I introduced and adopted for the Association "All we seek is Justice They say it reads that an injustice has been done when none exists. WRONG! An injustice has been done and is being done in denials and refusals of pensions for our widows and our sick and dying comrades. Our new Government has, it seems, done a U-turn and opposed our daims. (1) We must take some comfort in the fact that the British public supports us. (2) Many MP's and Members of the House of Lords from ALL parties still support us. (3) The authorisation of a continuence of the NRPB Study and the Catherine Cookson database study under the auspices of Sue Rabbitt Roff, must surely produce the truth. Finally, on this subject, I take the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Gordon McMasters, MP, who died so tragically just a few weeks ago. Gordon fought long and hard on our behalf and just three weeks prior to his pass­ ing, wrote to our Secretary, Sheila Gray, pledging his continued support. Gordon, you will be missed RIP! IN our April edition, I wrote under the heading “Fight for your Right", re pension tribunals, appeals, war pensions agency. I had heard, and still hear, complaints and suggested you write to me with your own experiences with P A T and W P A. and R B.L representation Only FOUR peo­ ple replied. I cannot act on four letters alone, I need your complaints in writing SUBSCRIPTIONS OH Dear! Are we really up the creek without a paddle? Our Treasurer Bill Kittsen assures us we are, or very soon will be.

Only we, the .members, can produce the missing paddle by paying our subscriptions. It was, until July 1st 1997, just £5 per annum ..just about 10p a week including second dass postage to send your cheque in. Now it reads £10 per annum (you the members voted for this) so it is now 20p a week including second dass postage. Just 20p per week - big deal Every week at some time or another I go to the shops, the majority of us do. Every week in the streets, in store doorways, there are volunteers with cash collection tins for one charity or another What do we normal­ ly do? Put in 10p or 20p or £1 - any loose change. Mine is usually a 50p piece In a year it comes to a lot more than I pay in subscriptions to our Association. I am confident the majority of you do the same. Come on Test veterans, think hard “Have I paid my subs? When did I last pay my subs? Was it 1990, 1994 or perhaps 1995? It is now 1997, please make the effort and get your subs off to the BNTVA (1992). Treasurer Bill Kittsen tells me less than 50% of our membership pay subs. The rest tend to forget. Please, if you have overlooked paying subs and you are one of “the rest", make amends now. Your Assodation needs your dues. Due to ther state of funds. If. after the Strasbourg hearing* members require copies of the summary of the report, please send SAE to Peter Fletcher or Ken Tavlor.

MEMORIAL STONES: Our stone in the North East is still in limbo, why I really don't know. But I understand the council up there made us fill in endless forms for planning permission, plus a NON REFUNDABLE fee of £80 for us be refused permission to have it in the place chosen. We must seek another site Where? Mike Reid, Bill Campbell, and Sheila Gray have all been involved writing letters etc. Bill even attended meetings with the coundl, but to no avail. With our stone in Paisley, Ken McGinley, Bob Smith and the late Gordon McMasters, MP, had no problems and were not asked for any money. In my involvement with our stones in Liverpool, Portsmouth Cathedral; Risca, South Wales; Birmingham, Leicester and Manchester, we met with little or no problems. What little problems did arise on a couple of occasions, were peacefully and quietly overcome. What is it with Newcastle City Coundl??? Please try to attend services for stones in your area (see back page diary dates).

HOW does the song go: “Where have all the flowers gone?" Well, where have all the rep’s gone? We know things are quiet, very quiet, but only half of us or less managed to submit something for this issue.

OUR sincere thanks to Mr Peter Wylde of our lottery who has provided us with this issue as well as the envelopes. And thanks too to Ken Taylor for his involvement. Without Peter and Ken we would not have a magazine.

FINALLY my personal thanks and gratitude to all me.

(1) At the AGM in Blackpool, I was presented with (2) This was followed by a presentation which had Mrs Pat Raynham (Canada) and Mrs Sheila Gray,

concerned for the following which certainly makes this year of 1997 a most memorable one for a desk nameplate from the Assodation by our Chairman Ken McGinley. me crying and speechless when I received the Papal Blessing which was handed to me by our Secretary. Although l am not of the Roman Catholic faith, this Holy Blessing is a treasure

(3) Mr George Robertson presented me with a plaque depicting the badge of “Operation Hurricane" (designed by Sid Hardwick of Portsmouth) from the West Yorkshire branch.

(4) Yet again at our AGM. a big lump came to my throat in a private meeting with the family of the late Tommy Biddles (West Yorkshire branch), who passed on to me Tommy’s electric wheelchair. To all of you what can I say other than thank you - I love you all and God Bless you.

(5) I keep asking myself, do I really deserve all this? I tell myself, not really because others do as much, sometimes more. I do what any Christian would do - help my comrades and their families if I can and will continue to do so as long as I am able. But to put a final nice touch to all these presentations and praise, was to be honoured in the Queens Birthday Awards with the MBE for my work in the BNTVA I still cannot beheve it is all happening to me. I have accepted the MBE award on behalf of the BNTV A in that we are now truly recognised by Her Majesty The Quee" and the Government. I am truly proud to be a Nudear Test Veteran and will wear my MBE and our commemorative Nuclear Test Veteran medal with humility, dignity and pride. Again, many many thanks to everyone concerned, God Bless you one and all.

Peter Fletcher

Amund the Branches THE Branch has been in a state of limbo for some time now with only the same four or five members turning up. Now is the time to decide if you want a branch or not.

1 will not be booking the club for future meetings unless I get the support of the Branch membership. Please write to me with your wishes.

October 8th will again be the date for the Merseyside Memorial Service; 6th November will see the Garden of Remembrance opened by HRH The Queen Mother (sec notice); and 7th November the Liverpool Garden of Remembrance will be dedicated in St.Johns Gardens.

It is with great sadness that I have to inform you of the death of Kay Dunne (widow of Wally, ex-Marallnga). Kay was a lovely lady and though housebound was a true supporter of our fight. Our deepest sympathy is extended to her family.

Please remember to give some thought to the future of the branch. The maga­ zines will not be published again until March so meetings are the main source of information.

Chris Rowlands - Merseyside FOLLOWING our Secretary’s letter of the 23rd February this year, members have written to their individual Members of Parliament asking for their support of the European Courts of Human Rights “Proposals of the Commission". The MP"s have replied mainly with a good support as a whole.

A member in Torquay has had an inter­ view with his local MP. It took place at the members home along with several other veterans in the area in attendance.

A member in Torquay, several members in Plymouth and myself have had inter­ views with the local press following the press release from the European Court of Human Rights.

In the last month, two members from the Branch have attended their War Pension Appeal hearings at Exeter. One had his appeal adjourned in view of the fact that it was not recorded in the records that a grand-daughter had the condition ‘Spina Bifida’. The second, a lady member, had her appeal turned down because her husband had smoked during his Army service. A really sad state of affairs to say the least.

Regular social evenings are held at the White Ensign Club in Exeter - the next meeting is 29th September. Special thanks to Bob and Jackie Aslett and Brit and SheiJa Merritt and two other veterans who arrange these events. We wish Chairman Ken Good Luck and God Speed at the hearing in the European Court of Human Rights in November.

Noel Hendv - Devon & Cornwall OUR April meeting was probably the most informative since the branch was formed mainly because of the information sent from the Executive and because of the recent Strasbourg findings. The letters our members received from their MP’s were discussed. It seemed to us they would not give a clear commitment. Ken Moses, who has been a BNTVA member for some time, joined us for the first time and informed the meeting of his own campaign to seek justice.

The AGM in Blackpool was well attended by our Branch members and our branch also gave a mandate which was unani­ mous in agreeing not to increase the membership fee because of the pitfalls. I would have thought it would be a better idea to put more pressure on the non­ payers than to expect one third of the members to pay a 100% increase.

If you need help in checking any lists of non-payers, regarding the sending out of magazines, this branch is available to help you. Apart from the above, the AGM and Social evening were a great success which we all enjoyed very much.

J Cole - North Staff /South Cheshire GREETINGS to all the Sussex branch membership and their families. I trust the ‘Summer Experience’ has been a good one for you all. Sadly I was unable to arrange our scheduled August due to unexpected health problems and hospitalisation.

However. I look forward to brighter times for the Autumn and Winter and will announce any planned branch events as soon as possible. May I also mention that I am always pleased to receive your news, views and suggestions at my West Chiltington base here in deepest West Sussex (Tel 01798-812025). Hope to hear from you or maybe see you soon.

Andrew Blossc - Sussex

IT is with deepest regret that 1 have “ report the passing away, last May. of Sid Lee, ex-RAF. who served with the Balloon section on Christmas Island. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to his widow Blodwin and all the family. God Bless!

Milton Keynes branch meetings are held on the first Sunday of every third month * September. December. March and June at 12-noon at the Royal British Legion.

Newport Pagnell. Milton Keynes. Bucks.

Pqt Hurley - Milton Kevnea l WOULD like to thank the Peaurt family for their kind donation to national funds at the time of Bill's funeral. Our deepest condolences also go out to them with the recent death of their dear mother.

Arrangements are being made for the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 6th November. Her Majesty. The Queen Mother, will be attending. Tickets are also being organ­ ised for the Cenotaph Parade on Remembrance Sunday. 9th November.

Refreshments will be available at each venue.

Last year approximately 60 veterans attended the Sunday Parade, let’s try to make it 100 with so many veterans living in the Home Counties who do not attend.

Let’s try harder this year.

The Ministry of defence has promised to release over 2000 files by the end of this year. Many of them are being released in sanitised versions or with extracts removed, but at least they are starting to open more records, which all cover nuclear weapons tests.

Most of the files originate from the Atomic Research Establishment. Extracts from these files were first released to the Royal Australian Commission, but AW RE has been slow in releasing the original files. We wait to see what they contain.

We would like to congratulate Peter Fletcher for being awarded the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, which he will receive from Her Majesty on the 14th October. Well done Peter, you deserve it.

Finally Ken and Pam wish everybody in the Association a very Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Ken Tavlor - London

Please help me with copies of this memorabilia This appeal comes from Ted Whitehead of Glentor House. Tor Road. Plymouth (01752771785) I WAS on RFA Wavemaster as a cabin boy and did two and a half months on Christmas Island with odd trips to Trim comale© and maiden Island thrown in.

We were anchored off the island for the March 8, 1967, explosion.

I have happy memories of visits to HMS Messina for their ‘Sods Opera’, visits to the open air cinema on the Island and also long evenings spent In the NAAFI followed

by the ride In the ‘Flunkies Hayride’ open truck down to the jetty to catch our ship.

Although normally a non drinker, on the one occasion I had some drink for a bet, I lost my two front teeth In the sea from the jetty. Despite repeated dives by helpful mat ©lots over the next few days, they were never found and I had to wait until a trip to Singapore the following February before I replaced them - my grateful thanks to those matelots if they read this.

Among the memorabilia I collected were the photo of the H Bomb explosion; the

Island newsletter; a booklet with the title ‘Operation Grapple’; and a black pennant with something like Christmas Island HBomb tests on it.

I loaned all this to a well known local artist four years ago who appears to have mislaid them. Despite repeated requests it Is unlikely that I will get any of ft back.

If anyone can let me have a copy of the photo and photocopies of the booklet and newsletter, I would be extremely grateful and, of course, would meet any costs incurred.

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BOND Hotel 120 Bond St. South Shore. Blackpool

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A welcome awaits both able and disabled people.

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Langroyd Private Hotel 47 Station Road (opp South Pier), Blackpool.

TELEPHONE: i01253-342263 □ Fully licensed □ Excellent menus □ Modern bedrooms with tea making facilities and tv's □ No meters □ Some en-suites

□ Lovely dining room, comfortable lounge and a friendly licensed bar □ All the amenities needed to help you enjoy your stay

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12 Station Road, Blackpool Telephone: 01253-343012 n Situated opposite South Pier 1 Large, comfortable bar/lounge n Spacious separate dining room ft Excellent varied menus n Choice of standard or en-suite bedrooms with all facilities n Full central heating Proprietors - |\M .md Will l;i\lor

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Dates for your Diary 1997:

ABOVE: A trip down Memory Lane as Peter Fletcher is pictured all at sea and on his way to lay a wreath on Monte Bello Islands on October 3, 1989,

Friday, 3rd October - Memorial Service, BNTVA Stone, St.Johns Gardens, Liverpool 45th anniversary of Great Britain’s first Test at Monte Bello. Contact Chris Rowlands on 0151-256-6688.

Sunday 5th October - Welsh Memorial Parade and Service, BNTVA Stone, Risca, South Wales. Please contact Peter & Gron Williams on 01558-822141 Monday 6th October - Depart for pilgrimage to Christmas Island by Chairman, Ken McGInley and Mrs Jess Munn, sponsored by BBC Television, Scotland.

Tuesday 14th October - Peter Fletcher, Vice-Chairman of BNTVA, goes for investi­ ture of the MBE by H.H. The Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Thursday 6th November - H.M. The Queen Mother will open the Reid of Remembrance at Westminster (see notice on this page).

Contact Chris Rowlands on 0151-256-6680 or Ken Taylor on 0181-555-2644.

Sunday 8th November- Remembrance Sunday Cenotaph Parade and Service, Whitehall, London. Those wishing to attend please send s.a.e. to Peter Fletcher for tick­ ets. Telephone 01744-29636 Wednesday 26th November - Strasbourg European Court of Human Rights sits to hear BNTVA cases 1998: Saturday 21st February - Memorial Service, BNTVA Stone at Portsmouth Old Cathedral Contact Dave Riley on 01705-735669.

Saturday 25th April - BNTVA Annual General Meeting in Blackpool. Full details will be printed in the Spring issue of our magazine Sunday 26th April - BNTVA Church Parade and Service in Blackpool.

E ARE WE CERTIFIABLY NUTS? I refer to our Chairman's report in the last Newsletter regarding a possible link between witnessing a nuclear explosion and possible psychiatric conditions.

DO YOU GET VERY ANGRY? DO YOU BECOME VERY AGGRESSIVE? DO YOU SUFFER BOUTS OF DEPRESSION? I don't know about you, but I certainly do.

For those of you who have never heard of me, I was, according to the National Press at the time, one of the first seven to receive an “award" back in 1982, this was after treat­ ment for skin cancer since 1975 I have successfully appealed several times since then, and the "award" was altered to a War Disability Pension which our Government still declares was caused by "over exposure to brilliant sunlight. I was at Christmas Island for Operation Grapple X in 1957, and that sure was a brilliant sun that suddenly appeared in the sky!!!

I firmly believe that these emotions do not have any link with the Nuclear Tests at all, but nevertheless are very much caused by the Government, and have tried to analyse it

whilst undergoing surgery for the removal of in excess of 100 Basal Cell Carcinomas.

ANGER This is caused by the sheer frustration that you know full well that your medical condition was caused by nuclear radiation, and the little grey people of Whitehall, together with the vast majority of our elected representatives in Parliament refuse to admit it at all. In fact, when you feel that you are beginning to finally get somewhere, they very cutely move the goal posts.

AGGRESSION Directly related to the above because you are tired of being called a liar, and having miles of red tape put in your path DEPRESSION Caused by the constant feeling that your claims will forever fall on stony ground. The constant visits to the Doctor or Hospital for treatment which after 22 years is becoming an absolute pain in the backside It hurts as

Field of Remembrance ceremony WITH kind permission of the Dean and have been altered. The Royal British Legion, Chapter of Westminster, this year’s Field of in their letter to us, said 'The Queen Mother Remembrance will open at approximately will open the Field which will then remain 1130am on Thursday 6th November, when a open until 4pm on Thursday 13th November.

The Royal British Legion hope we will sup­ short Service will be held to which BNTVA representatives are invited. In order to acco­ port the Field by ordering badge and other modate the increases in the number of partic- crosses for the plot. Contact Chris Rowlands ipants, the position of the BNTVA plot may or Ken Taylor for full details.

well!!

WHAT IS THE CURE? Some of us have adamantly refused to give up the fight Many of us have gone to our graves still fervently believing in our just claims, and sadly leaving misery behind The cure is just around the corner thanks to the tenacity of Ken, Peter and many more Our Government has already been found guilty on numerous counts, but still refuses to either acknowledge it was wrong, but even worse admit it conducted a "cover up cam­ paign". The events in Strasbourg will bring everything into the light. The Government will be forced to finally admit it's errors and pay the consequences. However, our work is still not done

EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT IT. I'm sure that the Government has called in a few favours from certain members of the National Press and Media as their immediate response to the report from the European Court of Human Rights was mediocre to say the least. The publicity we obtained was fan­ tastic at local levels thanks to those who were able to act quickly. That is how we should continue.

If you have anything to say - say it to your local media. If enough of us do that, the national media will be forced to act them­ selves, which in turn will exert more pressure on the powers that be.

But remember... keep vour committee informed of your actions otherwise that vital impact could be lost DEREK FIDDAMAN

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