British Nuclear Test Veterans Association
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Aims
The following list became our aims in 1988 and to date, we have been successful with some. We are hopeful for others.
- Recognition
- Health Study
- Medical Care
- Genetics
- Pensions
- Parity with US Veterans
- Parity with Australian Veterans
- Compensation
- Answers
- Nuclear Veterans Day
1. Recognition
We are asking for recognition of possible damage to the health of personnel involved in the Nuclear Tests. As we were just entering the 'Nuclear Field' in the 1950s, most of the knowledge was still in its infancy. Therefore, no-one could categorically state 'no-one was affected'. Scientists of today are still learning about radiation and its effects which can take tens of years to manifest themselves. At the time of the first Test, 1952, the only passage of time to have elapsed was from the Hiroshima bomb in 1945 and the first US Tests in 1946. There was no information forthcoming from the Japan bomb so that left only six years between explosions, which in scientific years, is negligible.
2. Health Study
The NRPB Study was supposed to be a Health Study but instead became a Cancer Morbidity Study only. The PM, Mrs Thatcher herself, has told us it was not advisable to carry out a Health Study. No man, his family or doctor, was approached for information. The Study included over 5,600 men who were sent out to prepare the Test Sites and then returned to base before any explosion took place. Men over a certain age were excluded - 'they would have died in any case'. Men who had emigrated were not taken into account. Even so the Study showed a marked increase in leukaemia and multiple myeloma amongst the veterans. We are demanding a proper Health Study be conducted where each veteran and his doctor, is approached for a full medical history. We have even suggested to Lord Tre1farne a simple method in which this could be carried out and we were supported by Jack Ashley MP, Winston Churchill MP and Frank Cook MP but nothing has happened as yet.
3. Medical Care
We wish to be given a chance to be seen and treated by fully qualified medical men in the field of radiation-related diseases - these are few and far between. When veterans mention their involvement with radiation to their GPs, they are suspected of being paranoid, mental, hypochondriacs or dismissed out of hand. This is because the normal GP has never been involved with radiation-related diseases.
4. Genetics
Genetic disorders have been proved many times in animals who have been effected by radiation. Our children, many of whom have the same disorders, are ignored. We want a full-scale study carried out on our children to see the extent of the damage caused them. To be classed as a normal citizen, with the average damaged child, each veteran would have had to father over 23 children - that is the only way they could conform to statistics.
5. Pensions
These are now slowly being granted but only where leukaemia and multiple myeloma are concerned. We believe they should be given for other illnesses also.
6. Parity with US Veterans
The US Government is now admitting to the possibility of 15 cancers caused by their tests, our Government acknowledge only two - leukaemia and multiple myeloma. Radiation is the same the world over, therefore, we want the same recognition.
7. Parity with Australian Veterans
The Australian Government is now settling out of court for various illnesses, the first being Ric Johnstone who suffered a mental disorder. We believe our Government should do likewise.
8. Compensation
This should be the right of all veterans who believe their illness was caused through their involvement in the Nuclear Test Programme. Admiral Torlesse stated in 1951 'men should be given the benefit of the doubt and duly compensated' why has this not happened?
9. Answers
We wish to be given direct and honest answers to our queries instead of being brushed off with platitudes and evasive treatment. If the Government or the MOD have nothing to hide, why can they not be truthful.
10. Veterans Day
We believe a special 'Day' should be inaugurated to commemorate the UK entering into the Nuclear Age. This we have requested and we are still awaiting the outcome.