Page 15 - BNVTA News November 2020
P. 15
4. Blackpool
Main Assembly Hall, Salvation Army Citadel, Raikes Parade, Blackpool FY1 4EL
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Two rectangular plaques with incised inscription, lettering in black. Mounted on a wooden backboard, on the wall of the main assembly hall. These were organised by Sidney Harris, a veteran of Christmas island, who was in the Salvation Army.
https://www.iwm.org.uk/ memorials/item/memorial/61874
Access by appointment only https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/ blackpool-citadel
Inscription Plaque 1:
BRITISH NUCLEAR TESTS VETERANS ASSOCIATION, DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST VETERANS WHO HAVE DIED SINCE THE BRITISH TESTS AT MONTE BELLO EMU FIELD MARALINGA MALDEN ISLAND AND CHRISTMAS ISLAND "ALL WE SEEK IS JUSTICE"
Inscription Plaque 2:
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH FORCES AND CIVILIANS OF AUSTRALIA - FIJI - NEW ZEALAND. WHO SERVED ON THE BRITISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTS PROGRAMME 1952 - 1958 "NOT FORGOTTEN".
5. Gillingham
On south wall, St Barbara’s Garrison Church, Maxwell Road, Gillingham, Rochester Upon Medway, Kent, ME7 5SG ///epic.woods.quite
This is not a BNTVA plaque but a memorial for Sapper Frank Furlong who died. We've included an article about Peter Fletcher, ex-BNTVA Chairman, who served with Frank Furlong during Operation Hurricane. Peter speaks of flying back out to the Montebello Islands and holding a memorial service at Frank's graveside in Australia. Peter also led the campaign for the plaque to be placed at Gillingham
https://www.iwm.org.uk/ memorials/item/memorial/61874
The plaque has the following inscription;
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF SAPPER FRANK FURLONG 71 FIELD SQUADRON R.E. KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE MONTEBELLO ISLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA, WHILE WORKING IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATOMIC WEAPON TRIAL 13TH OCTOBER 1952. AGED 30 YEARS ERECTED BY HIS COMRADES
CAMPAIGN AUTUMN 2020