Page 27 - CAMPAIGN Winter 2021

That was the day we were issued with a type of film badge to wear during the tests.
We mustered on the foredeck wearing just number eight gear with flash masks. The bridge officers and other people, probably scientists, were dressed in white suits from head to toe. The Tanoy instructions were, “Sit down and turn your backs to the target site, put your hands over your eyes.”
The ship, a landing craft, ran up onto the beach unloading then continued from there. As I said, the surf was very heavy and the great vessel bounced around causing the hull plates to spring. This would mean repairs in dry dock. But we carried on for the time being.
An American ship came alongside when we were back at the island anchored in Cook Bay. I believe it was wanting fuel or needed repairs.
On entering the harbour we turned to starboard and approached the dry dock. Our manoeuvre was not without incident. The dockmaster was walking backwards waving his arms, stepped back into the water filled dock.
One of the first to come aboard was the captain of the American vessel we had made welcome back on the island. He invited the ship’s com- pany to a banyan party or massive open-air barbecue at Pearl City on a later date. We settled down to life in the dry dock, I always remember the coke machine on the dock side. This had continuous use.
The harbour’s dockyard workers set to work and started the tasks before them. I must say they certainly got on very efficiently. The ship side was sprayed quickly by dropping a paint
stage over the ship’s side, then using spray guns to do the job which didn't take long.
Later, most of the ship's company, including the captain, went to the beach near Pearl City to meet our American pals and their barbecue. Wow! What a sight, barbecue steaks sizzling away as thick as a couple of inches and in a concrete trough about two foot wide by six-foot-long. Cans and cans of Schlitz and other beers. There was a swimming pool close by.
Well, we certainly got drunk and had bellies full of the wonderful steaks. Some sailor decided to put another sailor into the ice bath containing the beer, but there wasn't much beer left. We were in white tropical suits but we all ended up in the bath, me included! The suit I was wearing had been made to measure but it was ruined with grass stains. I could never wear it again.
CAMPAIGN WINTER 2021
How many British nuclear test veterans are alive?
The BNTVA is often asked this question.
We can give the following data from the Fourth Nuclear Weapons Tests Participants’ Study which will be published in 2022,
As of 31 December 2017, 9%
of test participants and 8% of controls had emigrated (1,998 and 1,902 respectively), 56% of both groups had died (11,906 participants and 12,549 controls), 34% of participants (7,301) and 35% of controls (7,718) were alive and living in the UK, and less than 1% of both groups were lost to follow up (152 and 143 respectively).
The average age of those left alive (as of the end of 2017) is 81 years.
RECA
If you are a veteran of Operation Dominic/Brigadoon at Christmas Island in 1962, and you have or are suffering from cancer, or your father or grandfather has since passed away from a cancer and was present at these tests, you may be eligible to receive $75,000 of compensation from the US government.
Please contact the BNTVA for further details on 0208 144 3080 or info@bntva.com. We have helped four veterans and their families with successful claims to the US government during 2021.
25