British Nuclear Test Veterans Association
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Letter to the Appeal Board from a Serviceman's Mother.
Elizabeth Noone
In light of the fact that my fathers service records, along with many other victims, have been ‘removed’ from the period of the beginning of all tests, to the end of them, I have as proof eyewitness accounts from my nan, uncle, and mum, all of whom witnessed the radiation sickness suffered by my father, chronically for over a decade after the tests, and to a lesser degree to this day. My nan, now deceased, but a nurse at the time, looked after my father for twenty six years since the test. Please find it in your hearts to take the time to read this, it is the truth. My nan’s account is from a letter to the appeal board when my father was fighting for acknowledgement of what had been done to him, and graphically spells out the agony and suffering my father has endured. Please read.
Account by Mrs Kathleen Kingston. Written in 1991.
Dear Sirs/Madames,
This letter is to dispute your statement made in your letter to Mr C.E Noone, in response to his further appeal relating to damages to himself from the bombing of Christmas Island in the late fifties.You say that he had not mentioned before any of the complaints he stated this time, I know personally that he did, as I myself had spoken about them in my last letter to you. also, at the appeal I attended with Mr Noone, if you have no account of this it must be that you did not consider these points important enough for you to file, or put on record somewhere, unless they have been conveniently lost, like two to three years of his service records were. I will state now, as I did then, Mr Noone and his family were lodging with me as friends in the the mid sixties, after Mr Noone agreed to divorce his wife, in fairness to her. He remained at my home, as it was completely necessary for him to have help in his terrible condition. I naturally have first-hand knowledge of his health an all that was implied from his wife and mother. I have now known, and attended to him for 26 years. During the first ten years approx. his body, mostly his back did not contain a pin head of space clear of abscesses and un-named carbuncle like mounds, plus tumours, sometimes these having to be removed by operations in hospital.
I had to spend 2 hours every night - lesser time of a morning, bathing off his shirt, which was stuck firmly to his skin with matter, blood and puss, which had leaked out during working, or over night. the odour at all times was obnoxious, and inundated the whole house.
After attending to this, Mr Noone was completely drained, and always felt extremely ill, most times going to bed straight away around 7.30 - 8pm.
All this resulted in him becoming a virtual recluse, unable to invite friends in for fear of offending them, which of course he would have done. Neither did invitations arrive to go elsewhere, not that he would have been fit to go anyway. his self estime, pride and abilities were non existent. understandably his inferiority complex became worse so things became twisted up in his mind.
I feared for his sanity many times, his moods (once none existent) became so bad it was like living with a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. He was so lacking in energy, he was unable to work for more than a few weeks at a time, sometimes only days, often at home really ill for months. Many times he was unable to even walk, dragging or shuffling along because his back, from and other parts were crammed with these painful weeping objects which stuck his skin together. Most times with no energy, he would be crumpled up in a chair, legs drawn up under his chin, arms around his legs, head down, completely silent, ashen grey with the pain, dejected, looking like a 60 year man. And I am speaking of a young man in his late 20's and 30's. I know from his wife that all of this had been gradually increasing since he was 20 years old and first married.
I know that his back is nearly better, although attention has to be paid to it, as often these things still appear and tumours have to be removed.
Otherwise, his life has not changed to any great degree, although he can now control his change in moods, whereas before it was impossible for him to do this. He is still lacking in energy, very lethargic, and his memory has become appalling. He retains hardly any conversation that has been had, he is unable to concentrate and only for short periods can contain what one has said. He requires approx. 12 hrs sleep a night, so his social life has only improved to the extent of him going to meditation classes sometimes.
I am pleased to say that his general outlook is very good now, but that takes all of his energy to maintain. His life has been completely ruined, ordinary boils etc. do not bring a man down to living a mere existence. His natural self is one of a caring, considerate, loyal, quiet and when possible a very helpful kind gentleman.
No matter what group of people gather together, whatever they call themselves, they know now the results of nuclear bombs to people. You are the ones that can make the Government face up to their responsibility at last, giving these men a pleasant as possible for their remaining days, instead of continuing a living death. Thank you.
Yours Sincerely.
Mrs K Kingston.
This is my nan's account, it is now, on reflection, easier to understand the changes my father went through after suffering all this, only to be repeatedly denied by MOD.
I remember how your back looked back then. It was covered in large red angry looking boils which came to a head eventually and burst. Dressings applied to your back were constantly wet with pus and when the boils burst they seemed not to want to heal, remaining for a long time as open sores. When these finally dried up, they were replaced by a fresh crop of boils. There was not a square inch of healthy looking skin anywhere on your back. The affected area extended from the lower back well up into the hairline.