Exposure, Deaths and Claims

Information contained within Air Ministry files shows exposure levels, deaths and early claims for war pensions and compensation from Nuclear Testing.

Our investigation shows that many servicemen were exposed, buried quickly and claims denied.

AIR2/14786 - Medical examination and records: Personnel exposure to radiation hazards

Following the ANTLER trials the following officers were not permitted to carry out sampling flights: Squadron Leader Bates, Flight Lieutenant Newton, Flight Lieutenant Cordery, Flying Officer Ashby & Flying Officer Mellish. An ANTLER exposure list is referred to, but it is missing from the file.

As Maralinga personnel were to be exposed to radiation at the tests so the War Office felt that it was essential to examine men so that they could see there was no blood disease prior to exposure. The following levels were to be used:

​Blood Count Levels	Normal	Warning Level	Rejective Level
Neutrophiles	2250-3000	3000	7000
Lymphocytes	1100-3800	1000	750
Leucocytes	4500-12100	4500	3000
Total Abnormal Cells	Nil	Nil	Present

NO facilities for blood sampling existed at Christmas Island. It was decided to test 25% of all trades. A request was made for the records of Flying Officer Perr and Squadron Leader Pouley from Operation GRAPPLE. No record could be found for Pouley.

This file also details 2 servicemen who failed the blood test. One was treated and subsequently passed fit for service. The second resulted in a request to Coastal Command whether or not he was to enter a controlled area. No reply was found in the file. No further details of these men can be found in this file.

AIR2/15274 Radiation: safety aspects for personnel

The file contains details of some claims made regarding radiation exposure and alleged ill health:

Squadron Leader R.F.W Nettley had anaemia in the UK in June 1961. AWRE had no record of him at "TOTEM" suggesting a level of <0.1r. He had psoriasis involving his fingernails and there was concern regarding his involvement. In the end, his condition was put down as a posttraumatic type of anaemia.

Flight Lieutenant Henry Stuart (deceased 9 December 1961). His widow made a pension claim. He served on Christmas Island 24 July 1959 to 19 November 1959. Information was requested on activities and nuclear weapons testing during this period. The file does not contain the outcome of the claim.

S.A.C. Ronald Charles Wilkins made a claim on 12 September 1960 for Diplopia. Served at Christmas Island 16 March 1958 to 22 May 1958 and 17 July 1958 to 24 October 1958. Information was requested on the number of tests and what form of protection was available goggles etc. The file does not contain the outcome of the claim.

The file also contains a reference to the contamination found by No.32 Maintenance Unit at St Athan on aircraft Valiant XD 827 showing 180 and 140 counts per second compared to the AMO level of 100. The AMO level suggested averaging over the whole surface and there was some confusion as to what this actually meant. It was felt in the end that this should apply to the whole engine area and then this brought the average level down to below the AMO level.

The AMO levels were based on A.M.O 129/58 as amended by A.13/62. Confusion existed over wording. One letter suggested that the confusion was due to low intelligence but admits that the AMO was not written in a form understandable by the average Officer 'let alone by an Engine mechanic', as there were four levels of contamination acceptable.

AIR20/10583 HQ Task Force 'GRAPPLE': Parliamentary Questions

Lance Corporal Derek Redman died on 7 May 1958 and was buried at sea within 10 hours. He had been passed fit on 5 May 1958. He had worked with the scientists in the power stations supplying power to the weapon assembly area. He did not enter this area. According to the file, there was no evidence that he had visited the Southeast area once it had been declared safe or earlier. The post-mortem found that he had died from a diabetic coma. (Although no records of the post-mortem exist) In dealing with this case, there is a reference to Spr W B Morris who had developed leukaemia (GRA/S.104/6/ORG of 21st May)

AIR28/1699 Christmas Island RAF Station Log Book 1957-64

3 June 1958 S A C Lloyd drowned. He was buried at sea 5 June 1958.

1-9 August 1958 Douglas Bain, AWRE killed in a Land Rover crash, buried at sea from HMS Narvik.

1-9 August 1958 Sgt Percy Phillips, No.49 Squadron died in his bed and was buried the same day within 5 hours.

AIR28/1700 Christmas Island RAF Station Log Book: Appendices Only

The post-mortem on Sergeant Percy Phillips reported the death as a pulmonary embolism.

Appendix 67 reported that on 23 December 1959 x-rays of Mrs Tiariari revealed the presence of twins. She gave birth that afternoon. Both boys weighing 4lbs and 6lbs appeared healthy. At 16:00 on 25 December one boy died followed by the other several hours later. Both died as their mother was nursing them. The cause of death is unknown and reported as a "neo-natal cause undiscovered".

Appendix 74 reported that on 11 February 1959 Mrs Tarawa (Gilbertese) while being admitted to the hospital as a likely case for a caesarean section, spontaneously delivered. The baby was born dead.

AIR19/845 RAF Assistance in Atom and Hydrogen Bomb Experiments

This file includes a report of GRAPPLE Z Halliard test by Group Captain F O Hughes. PSO to CAS, which included a comment of GRAPPLE Y:

"In the multi-megaton blast of GRAPPLE YANKEE - in which the yield was considerably larger and surprised even the boffins - the SASO apparently finished up on the floor of the JOC, well trussed up in headset cabling. All this at 23 nautical miles range. Incidentally, re-entry parties to the Forward Area on the occasion of the burst found fires burning at 15 miles from ground zero."

In a letter to Rt Hon John Stachey MP it was stated that no deaths had occurred during the tests and that the only servicemen to die were one from drowning and one from natural causes. No other servicemen had died during the previous 2 years. (No mention is made of the Canberra Aircraft crash in Canada)

Conclusion

These files contain a lot of information and are still available at the National Archives, on an investigation, it seems that whenever contamination or exposure limits are reached, the parameters are changed. AIR2/15274 clearly shows that parts of an engine were radioactive and far exceeded the levels permitted, yet the readings were diluted across the entire engine so that they could then be recorded, stating 'Confusion over how to record the measurements'.

Servicemen returning to the forward area, saw fires burning 15 miles from ground zero, the yield much greater than expected to the amazement of the Scientists.

Many people died during the trials and Gilbertese children died with no explanation. Burials happened very quickly, with no repatriation process. Buried within 5 hours of their passing. Why the need for it to happen so quickly?

Blood tests were taken, but the servicemen are being denied access to them today. Claims were being made in the early 1960s for compensation. MP's are lied to again about the number of deaths and the Canberra air crash is again covered up.

Just how much is still buried in archive material which is unavailable for us to view, why will the MoD not release the files and tell the truth? We need transparency, we need the truth, no more lies, no more coverups, admit these tests were experiments, the effects unknown and the servicemen were used as guinea pigs. Many people lost their lives at the tests and after the tests due to exposure including many indigenous people and they need to be acknowledged and apologised to.