Forgotten Nuclear Heroes Awarded Long-Awaited Medal
Hundreds of British veterans who undertook extremely hazardous missions through radioactive fallout clouds are finally being honoured with a nuclear test medal. These servicemen, who tracked and photographed massive French and Chinese nuclear explosions in the Pacific for the Royal Air Force and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, had previously been denied recognition under stricter criteria set by the previous Conservative government.
A Controversial Legacy and a Bittersweet Victory
Defence Secretary John Healey stated, "Our nuclear test veterans helped to build the foundations for the UK’s security and freedoms that we enjoy today. The nation owes them an overdue debt of gratitude." The medal itself was announced in 2023 following a five-year campaign by the Mirror, with nearly 6,000 already awarded to veterans of British bomb tests in Australia and Christmas Island between 1952 and 1967.
This expansion now makes RFA civilian crews who monitored explosions from the sea and RAF crews involved in gathering intelligence on fallout clouds from French tests until 1974 and Chinese tests until 1980 eligible for the honour.
The Human Cost of Secret Missions
Many of these men believe they were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation, leading to high rates of cancer among them. Their children and grandchildren have also reported a high incidence of birth defects.
The story of John Cammish, a ground crew chief on the RAF's 543 Squadron, is a poignant example. His squadron used converted Victor bombers to chase mushroom clouds in the 1970s. He died in 2020, aged 87, after having his larynx and thyroid removed due to cancer. The Ministry of Defence later admitted his illness was linked to radiation exposure.
His widow, Lucy, 93, from St Ives, Cambridgeshire, said, "It makes me feel very happy to know they are finally being recognised for what they did. John wasn’t one for medals, and he never spoke much about it, but I think it’s important for our family."
Recognition or Publicity Stunt? The Medal's Detractors
Despite the government's announcement, not all veterans are celebrating. Some have refused to accept the medal, arguing that the criteria still exclude comrades who faced similar risks, such as those who maintained contaminated aircraft upon their return to the UK. They also criticise the timing of the announcement just before Remembrance Sunday, calling it a publicity stunt.
Colin Duncan, 88, from Chipping Sudbury, Gloucestershire, who was RAF ground crew in Peru studying French tests, has been fighting for the medal to be extended to all and converted to a full military honour.
"I know of many who came down with cancer, who had children with leukaemia, who worked on those same planes when they returned to the UK," he said. "The only decontamination they had was flying through rainclouds... Unless the medal is for all of us, it’s just a sop."
Barry Fagg, 81, from Cromer, Norfolk, who washed down planes after they had flown through French hydrogen bombs, also refuses to apply for the medal. He recalled having no protection or warning about radiation and later losing his first child to a miscarriage. "They’re just doing this for publicity because it’s Remembrance," he said, "but I’d rather they waited, and did it properly."
The Ongoing Fight for Justice and Transparency
The Mirror continues to push for justice in what it calls the "Nuked Blood Scandal." After decades of official denial, the newspaper uncovered evidence that nuclear veterans were used in radiation experiments, with blood test results hidden behind national security at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Adding to the concerns, some veterans involved in the foreign tests have found their medical records are missing. Records of their radiation doses were discovered in the same secret archive as blood test data from veterans of British bomb tests.
Campaigners, including the group LABRATS, now hope that the cancers and death rates of those who took part in the foreign tests will be included in a long-term government study of nuclear veterans, offering a fuller picture of the sacrifice these men made.
