Page 30 - CAMPAIGN Spring 2022

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CAMPAIGN Spring 2022
Appeal for British Nuclear Test Veterans
The BNTVA placed the following advert in the RBL Legion magazine.
We had taken this opportunity to search for nuclear test veterans who may not have heard of the Association to date, as a result of funding from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. In response, we heard from 52 nuclear test veterans that we weren’t aware of, and it has been a wonderful experience building relationships with these nuclear test veterans, hearing their experiences, recording their narratives, with their consent, of course, for the BNTVA Living Histories Project.
A government document dated 31 December 2017 states that, of the estimated 22,000 British servicemen who attended the 1952-1962 British and American nuclear tests, 7,301 still remain. Sadly, we are aware of losses from this figure due to age and illness over the past three years, but estimate that those remaining may still be well over the previously thought figure of 1,500. We are still actively searching for as many nuclear test veterans as possible, and would appreciate it if those interested would send the attached
template letter to your local newspapers in order for the BNTVA to discover as many nuclear test veterans as possible, address their needs where possible, and provide a listening ear for their lived experiences at the nuclear tests and beyond.
Dear Editor,
I write as a British nuclear test veteran/descendant/ member of the British nuclear community, concerning the British participation in the race for the nuclear deterrent from 1952-1962. Over 22,000 servicemen from the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Merchant Navy and scientists from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment, actively took part in the nuclear tests at the Montebello Islands, Maralinga and Emu Field, Australia, and at Christmas Island (Kiritimati) in the Pacific Ocean.
According to a government document dated 31 December 2017, over 7,000 men remained at that date who had attended the above nuclear tests. We believe this figure has decreased somewhat due to illness and old age, after many more men passed away from illnesses years ago, and, more recently, from old age.
The British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association (BNTVA) is a registered charity, which was originally established in 1983 by British nuclear test veterans for British nuclear test veterans and their families. Presently, the Association has nearly 800 members, and advocates on behalf of its veterans and their families to the government, the NHS, and to research establishments, including Brunel University’s Centre for the Health Effects for Radiological and Chemical Agents.
This letter is an appeal to locate British nuclear test veterans, their wives, widows, and descendants, who may not yet know about the BNTVA. The Association exists to support the British nuclear community, and, its sister charity, the Nuclear Community Charity Fund, aids the British nuclear community with individual grant-giving through the Care, Wellbeing & Inclusion Fund. If this letter reaches these individuals, please contact the BNTVA on 0208 144 3080 or info@bntva.com to talk to the Association.
Yours faithfully,