71 years later: the anniversary of a medal to remember

A year ago today, after many discussions with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, and at the invitation of the government, members of the nuclear test community met at the national memorial for our British nuclear test veterans at the National Memorial Arboretum. The event was held shortly after the 70th anniversary of Operation Hurricane, the first (and arguably the clumsiest) Commonwealth nuclear test.

The OVA entitled the occasion?as “a service to remember”; it was meticulously curated and sensitively delivered. Many hours of work went in from all of us who were involved. There were surprises regarding who accepted and who declined invitations within the nuclear test community, a rich tapestry of differing groups and factions.??

Johnny Mercer was supportive of British nuclear veterans from initial discussions with representative groups in 2021, and I met with him on several occasions. He immersed OVA employees about the humanity and inhumanity of Britain’s atomic trials, government scientific experiments, atmospheric tests… call them what you will.??

And that’s why 21 November 2022 is still?special. It was about remembering those who went before and their families who share the invisible DNA that bind us. It wasn’t about tangibly memorialised names inscribed in stone but thousands of names which aren’t written on plaques. It was about giving thanks to veterans who contributed to many methods of nuclear bomb development in the 1950s-1960s and listening to?their stories.?

The Defence Secretary attended and gave an address along with the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. A few of us were briefed that the PM was on his way. In pouring rain, PM Sunak announced the award of a commemorative nuclear test medal for all Commonwealth veterans who participated in nuclear tests and radiation clean-ups from 1952-1967.?

The medal continues to unite and divide nuclear veterans. Much like the nuclear tests, where there was a pride in service yet anger about lack of protection, the nuclear community has its own pride in service yet continues to display hypervigilance and suspicion. This, too, is a side effect of the tests, built into DNA.??

It was emotional to witness the PM speak of the invaluable work of nuclear veterans, and long overdue. Sadly, my father missed it as he passed away, age 64, from a radiogenic cancer post-Maralinga and was declined a war pension shortly before his death. ?

However, I continue to be touched when visiting veterans who wear their test medal for my arrival; these were my father’s peers who remain special to Michelle and me.?

This is why we founded BREACHED. As daughters of nuclear veterans, we have lived experience of?the lasting effects of the tests and the moral injury that veterans and their families endure. We’re here for all veterans and civilians tested with chemical, radiological or biological agents, whether at Porton Down, the Gulf War or other conflicts and enhanced soldiers who will be tested upon.?

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