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Issue 25 Bulletin of Nuclear Veterans and Children Aug 2014

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FISSIONLINE 25 FISSIONLINE

SCORES of mothers and children were sent to the Christmas Island at the height of the H-bomb tests in a bid to allay public fears over the safety of thousands of nuclear servicemen. The alarming PR stunt was or-dered by the War Office as panic swept many UK army camps over reports about men on the island being hit by cancers There was further consternation when a flood of ‘Dear John’ letters were sent to the troops from wives and sweethearts worried they might give birth to deformed ba-bies. As preparations were made to dispatch 1,000 relief troops to the island, Army top brass decided to boost morale by sending wives and children along to join their men returning home. A total of 31 wives and 33 children boarded the troopship TT Dunera on New Years Eve 1957 as it em-barked on the 9,000-mile journey to the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The wives had been given just a few weeks to decide whether they wanted to go on the ‘sunshine cruise’ at the bargain price of just £30 for adults, £15 for children Sadie Midford, a young wife with two small children, jumped at the chance of joining her husband, Tony, who had already spent a year on Christmas Island. “I was tremendously excited, it seemed like the trip of a lifetime,” she said. “We were put on the top deck of the ship and told it would be a sunshine cruise to paradise.’ And all seemed well as the ship eventually entered the palm-fringed lagoon at Port London,

Christmas Island. Mrs Midford said: “All the men were lined up waiting for us on shore and I desperately searched for Tony among the sea of faces. Me and the children went wild with excitement when we finally saw him. But at first he didn’t recognize me because I had a new hairdo!” Pictures of the joyful reunions together with children playing on the beaches and grass-skirted hula dancers were later published, but there was not a word of the huge H-bomb that had been deto-nated over the island just weeks before. Nor was their mention of the ra-dioactive fallout that contami-nated the lagoons and beaches. Many of the men later contracted cancers, and the Midfords are convinced their children were af-fected. On the journey back one of their children developed a bald spot on

her head and was later hit by can-cer. Mrs Midford said: “They did-n’t tell us about radiation; they didn’t tell us about anything. We soon realized we were just used for propaganda purposes to try to show everyone at home there was no danger.” Freedom of Information requests to the Ministry of Defence about the ‘sunshine cruises’ drew a blank. But fissionline has discov-ered the exercise was the brain-child of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Gatford, commanding offi-cer of the troops on Christmas Island. He thought it would be a great morale-booster, and the War Office agreed. A press release en-thused:“It paid off in kisses and happiness.” But Mrs Midford said: “We were just used as human shields to de-flect public opinion away from what was happening. This so-called ‘sunshine cruise’ was in reality a trip to hell.”

SAILING INTO HELL

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Mums and babes dispatched on subsidised ‘sunshine cruise’ to H-bomb testing zone

Troopship TT Dunera with 1,000 relief troops sets sail for Christmas Island. Inset: Child plays with mum and dad on deck

Ex-Royal Engineer Tony Midford with wife Sadie: their daughter later contracted cancer

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There were a few sentences that grabbed my throat when reading Fissionline 24 i.e: "The crucial turning point came when it was agreed there was “no point in replicating the peer-reviewed Rowland cytogenetic study, which proved New Zealand mariners were damaged by radia-tion at Britain’s H-bomb tests. Official minutes of the...." Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall that with any new scientific study, the methodology for the study is also included, for

By Joe Pasquini RAF Canberra Airman

the precise reason that THE STUDY CAN, AND SHOULD, BE REPLICATED to ensure the validity of the facts. If the original study cannot be replicated next door, or around the world - then it's validity is questionable. It would appear to me that the Crown Solicitors were able to pull a 'fast one', in more ways than one, over a bunch of well mean-ing, but obviously incompetent Nuclear Veterans. Could it be that radiation also has an adverse ef-fect on brain cells?

MoD LAWYERS PULLED A FAST ONE ON NUKE VETS

The UK’s top medical adviser on war pensions briefed government lawyers about private meetings between Defence ministers and leaders of Britain’s atomic bomb test veterans. Dr Anne Braidwood CBE, whose official title is Senior Medical Ad-viser to the Deputy Chief of De-fence Staff, insists she does not get involved in any legal claims by veterans for compensation. At the recent Stubbs radiation appeals tribunal she denied that she had any input in the MoD’s defence of the High Court action brought by more than 1,000 nu-clear veterans. Dr Braidwood, who has given medical opinions on thousands of war pension applications for 20 years, also denied she gave advice in relation to matters of ionizing radiation. But a ‘high importance’ briefing note from an unnamed civil ser-vant to Dr Braidwood makes it clear she is more involved with

the legal aspects of the nuclear veterans’ case than she has been prepared to admit. The note refers to a meeting former defence min-ister Kevan Jones had with repre-sentatives of the British Nuclear Tests Veterans’ Association on April 20, 2009 In a preamble to the report, dated 10 days later, the civil servant states:- “I have no intention of repeating what you have already sent to the TSOL team…” The ‘TSOL team’ is a reference to the Treasury Solicitor’s depart-ment which is the legal arm of government responsible for de-fending compensation claims by ex-servicemen. Why Dr Braidwood was briefing the lawyers is not clear. Nor is it revealed what she was briefing them about. But it raises ques-tions about her impartiality and suggests she is more involved than merely giving medical opin-

ions. Nuclear veterans have already commented on her ubiquitous presence at meetings with minis-ters. The note, obtained by fissionline under freedom of information laws, supplies Dr Braidwood at her request, with ‘further notes’ on the meeting between Jones and the veterans. This included a report on a Writ-ten Ministerial Statement Jones was about to issue concerning the setting up of a ‘Health Needs Analysis’ of how the NHS would treat nuclear veterans. It emphasizes twice that the pro-posed research would not show cause of veterans’ illnesses. A legal observer closely involved with the nuclear veterans com-mented: “It seems to be wholly incredible that Dr Braidwood was not involved in the litigation as the MoD’s adviser on such matters although she has, of course, said that she advises no-one.”

SECRET BRIEFINGS MoD top doctor reported to Treasury Solicitors over deal with Nuclear Veterans

Last time we showed how the nuclear veteran leaders surrendered to the MoD and meekly acquiesced to aban-doning the powerful NZ Rowland study, which proved mariners were irradiated at nuclear bomb tests. The two sides met again on to discuss the announcement of a much-less effective “Health Needs Audit”. A briefing note of the meeting was obtained by fissionline under Freedom of Information laws, and it begins with a bombshell...

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enormous amount of skill, hard work, enthusiasm and money was put into this great prospect. But unfortunately as time has gone on it has been shown that although nuclear energy has been very effi-cient and provided up to 25 per cent of Britain’s electricity, it is a very expensive and very capital intense method of generation. And it also has a great many unfore-seen problems regarding nuclear waste which are still not resolved. There are also problems of nuclear accidents which, although rare, can be devastatingly serious.. Nuclear power is still a very expen-sive way of generating electricity and we have the problem about uranium which is becoming scarcer and scarcer. The rich sources of uranium are pretty well worked out; deposits are so thin it takes a great deal of energy simply to mine it and so it is be-coming more and more expensive. So it is quite possible that there is only enough ura-nium left in the whole world to fuel one more generation of nuclear power stations. And even

For more than 50 years the MoD’s official nuclear historian Lorna Ar-nold has defended nuclear weapons and nuclear power. But before her death in March this year she had a dramatic change of heart. First in a devastating critique, she denounced nuclear weapons (as reported in fissionline). Now in her last bomb-shell interview she condemns nu-clear power as a very dangerous and costly mistake that should be ended.

‘When I joined the Atomic Energy authority in 1959 there was terrific enthusiasm for civil nuclear power. It seemed to be a great new future for mankind; a wonderful new source of clean, efficient power which would, as Churchill said, be a perennial fountain of prosperity. Britain could be in the lead in the post war era. So it was a wonderful prospect and many people engaged in the business regarded it in some way as an expiation of the atomic bomb horrors. And so it was an ex-citing and most hopeful time. The government launched the world’s first programme of civil nu-clear power and proposed to build 12 nuclear power stations all over the UK in the next 10 years. An

then it will be very expensive. There is not much future as far as I can see in civil nuclear power from fission reactions. Maybe fu-sion power will come into its own, but so far there is no sign of that. One sad effect of the concentra-tion on nuclear power has been the neglect of the research and development of renewable energy. And there is also the neglect of our coal reserves, which might have been used if we had gone about it in the right way. So I think on the whole that al-though civil nuclear power was very interesting and very tangible, it was a very limited option which I think is drawing to an end. Something new has got to be found in its place.’

NUCLEAR MADNESS Lorna Arnold’s shocking revelation in last interview before her death

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me more like The Minister for the Protection of the Government.” Facebook followers voiced their disappointment. Susan Mussel-white wrote: “I find it disgusting” Stephen Mairs said: “There is of course the New Zealand peer-reviewed Massey University study. Perhaps the BNTVA should have arranged a similar study that would have added serious weight to the already widely accepted NZ research.” Robby Robinson wrote: “I noticed that Anna Soubry has been pro-moted to a higher level in the MoD. It doesn’t bode well for any

The British Nuclear Tests Veter-ans’ Association charity’s cam-paign for a £25 million benevolent fund to help nuclear veterans and children has been slapped down by Veteran’s minister Ann Soubry. In a letter to MP Shailesh Vara, a minister in the Justice Depart-ment, on behalf of his constituent Ron Watson, Ms Soubry appears to have demolished the corner-stone of the five-year fight for an ex-gratia cash payout which the charity would distribute. Ms Sou-bry wrote:- “The Government continues to maintain that there is no need for a Benevolent Fund for the nuclear test veter-ans as there is already provision available through the War Pen-sion Scheme to com-pensate veterans for injury or illness linked to their service.” Mr Watson (right) posted the news on Facebook. He wrote: “Below is a copy of a recent letter from the Minister for Defence Personnel Welfare and Veterans. Sounds to

change in the government posi-tion in the future.” Peter Dallas Waltham said: “The BNTVA started to go downhill when Ken McGinley departed and Liddiatt and Lowe started the pas-sive approach. All they want to do now is play soldiers and prance about with flags.” Fissionline emailed John Baron MP, Patron of the BNTVA, who recently had private discussions with David Cameron about the possibility of setting up a benevo-lent fund for the nuclear veterans-for a comment, but unfortunately received no response.

ANNA PUTS BOOT IN

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to several papers that showed that NZ sailors had visited the island following bomb explosions. METZER: “It’s clear isn’t it, that both those ships visited Christmas Island after the tests and that was known by you?” BRAIDWOOD: “No, I don’t think it was known by me.” METZER: “But if they were ex-posed by reason of unmonitored exposure on Christmas Island where they were free to visit, then logically others would be exposed too?” BRAIDWOOD: “I couldn’t com-ment on that, I’m sorry.” METZER: “It’s only a point of logic, that if they’re exposed to ion-izing radiation when they’re on

The MoD’s top medical adviser shocked a court when she said she was unaware that New Zealand Navy personnel went ashore at Christmas Island after bomb tests. Cross examined by lawyers repre-senting hundreds of nuclear veter-ans, Dr Anne Braidwood was quizzed about the possible con-tamination of the crews who visited the island. But Dr Braidwood insisted she could not answer questions about the shore visits because she had not seen any written evidence. Tony Metzer QC for the veterans clearly exasperated by the answer asked: “I don’t think it is an issue they were on the island?” BRAIDWOOD: “I wasn’t aware of that.” METZER: “What is absolutely clear is they spent recreational time touring the island, they played sport, they drank water, they ate food; and the only place they were not monitored was on Christmas Island, wasn’t it?” BRAIDWOOD: “I genuinely have to say I’m very sorry, it’s something I’m not aware of as a matter of fact. You’re telling me.” METZER: “Does that influence your considerations then?” BRAIDWOOD: “Not if you provide me with some evidence that con-firms that they were there.” Mr Metzer referred Dr Braidwood

Christmas Island it’s likely that others will too?” BRAIDWOOD: “There do seem to be a large number of ifs, if you’ll excuse me.” METZER: “Not at all. It’s one scenario. If they were exposed, others were exposed too?” BRAIDWOOD: “Excuse me, my difficulty is I don’t know where they were, how many of them. It would all depend upon exactly where they were.” *fissionline has access to Official records from ‘Reports of Proceed-ings’ of the two NZ frigates Pu-kaki and Rotoiti which show crew members spent a total of 37 days, two hours and 25 minutes ashore at Christmas Island after tests.

I SEE NO NZ SHIPS! Stubbs Tribunal: Dr Braidwood refuses to admit NZ sailors went ashore

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Records show Royal New Zealand Navy frigates Pukaki and Rotoiti visited Christmas Isle for shore leave

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charity had left was a passive, cap-in-hand, begging-bowl strategy to in-veigle £25 million of taxpayer’s cash as compensation for its ‘uniqueness.’ We can see where that strategy got them. The MoD doesn’t do gentle. It laughs in the face of appeasers and those who show weakness. Soubry’s slap-down was mild compared with one of her predecessors, Andrew Robathan, who virtually booted the charity’s leaders out of a meeting in Whitehall. But I don’t discern much sympathy from the rank and file. For too long those who run the BNTV have adopted a ‘pay-up, shut-up and do as we say’ policy with its members who have been kept in the dark about what is happening. In recent years the charity hasn’t even bothered to publish its own spending accounts. Meanwhile dissenting voices have

H A R D - H E A R T E D Anna Soubry’s uncom-promising refusal to grant a ‘benevolent fund’ for nuclear veterans makes it hard to see how David Cameron could over-rule his newly pro-

moted Veterans Minister (as the Brit-ish Nuclear Tests Veterans’ Associa-tion would like) even if he wanted to. So where does the BNTVA Charity go from here? It doesn’t seem to have a Plan B. Its leaders effectively neutered the association by arbitrarily inform-ing the Ministry of Defence it would-n’t be seeking to hold the government liable for the deaths and injuries of thousands of nuclear servicemen. And they divested it of any scientific integ-rity by relinquishing all its records and burying the vitally important Rowland Report. In the end all the

been imperiously silenced, while persis-tent ‘offenders’ have been expelled from the association and even threatened with court action. It’s no way to run any or-ganisation, especially one supposedly representing our proud nuclear veterans. But there is light at the end of the tun-nel. The campaign by fissionline and others to get the iniquitous Stubbs Pen-sion Appeal Tribunal verdict overturned is bearing fruit. There is a real possibility there will be a re-trial which will be a major victory. Added to that the forensic court demolition of the MoD’s star wit-ness, Dr Anne Braidwood, by Neil Sampson of Rosenblatts and Tony Met-zer of Hogan Lovells (as published ex-clusively in fissionline) augers well for the forthcoming battles. With their help, and many other fellow travelers, (and maybe even the Navajo Indians!) the historic 30-year fight for justice by the nuclear veterans could still be won.

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NUKE VETS CAN WIN THE WAR

Fissionline is proud to welcome a formidable new force to

its growing army: the Navajo Indians! This proud nation has

occupied a vast swathe of New Mexico for centuries and

has suffered the consequences of nuclear bomb test con-

tamination on their lands. They are on the warpath with

both the US government and the uranium mining co’s and

have asked us to join them, which we are honoured to do.