Page 12 - CAMPAIGN Summer 2021

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CAMPAIGN Summer 2021
BNTVA Medal Submission 2021 and introduction of Moral Injury
In December 2020, the Advisory Military Sub-Committee rejected the BNTVA’s medal submission. The submission was sent to the Committee in May 2019 as part of the BNTVA Medal Campaign which commenced in May 2018.
Ceri spoke to the AMSC, who stated that a simple application would suffice, and that a costly campaign was not needed to submit a fresh application. We were eager to supply a fresh application, to be judged on its own merits, with proper referencing and suitable evidence supplied as part of the application.
During a conversation with the ex-veterans' minister, Johnny Mercer MP, Johnny gladly lent his support in leading the application and he was keen to point out that he believes that the British nuclear test veterans deserve a medal for their service.
The medal submission included:
• The background of the BNTVA:
• The historical context of Britain’s nuclear testing
• The climate and terrain involved in the nuclear testing and clean-ups
• Proof of a significant degree of risk and rigour with examples of Operations Hurricane, Totem, Mosaic (with a focus on Captain Gower’s description of the ordeal of the HMS Diana), Buffalo, Grapple and Cloud Samplers
• Documentary observations pertaining to risk and rigour
• Discussion of physical and mental stress and rigour
• Military-attributable moral injury
• Six case studies from nuclear test veterans from different tests • Evidence from successful war pension claims
• A list of British atmospheric tests between 1952-1959, and Operation Dominic 1962.
Psychological Trauma Moral Injury
Precipitating Event Threat of death or injury Act that violates deeply held moral beliefs and/or values
Individual’s Role at Witness or victim Perpetrator, witness Time of Event or victim
Predominant Painful Fear, horror, helplessness Guilt, shame, anger, betrayal Emotions
What is lost? Safety Trust