Son of Plymouth nuclear test veteran pleads 'tell us the truth'

The son of a Plymouth veteran who was involved in nuclear testing in 1956 said the Labour Government must make good on promises that they will ensure justice for those who suffered ill health as a result – and finally acknowledge their ordeal.

Michael Burt’s father Douglas was a Commissioned Gunner serving on HMS Diana when she was ordered to steam through radioactive fallout from the testing of nuclear weapons off Western Australia in 1956.

Dubbed Operation Mosaic, it was one of a series of nuclear tests which were the subject of a BBC documentary screened this week, called Britain’s Nuclear Bomb Scandal.

The programme saw veterans who were involved in the tests – and their descendents – describe a litany of health complaints, including cancers and birth defects in their offspring, because of exposure to radiation.

Michael’s own father died of leukaemia – blood cancer – in 2009, but his death certificate stated it was down to ‘natural causes’.
Although nuclear test veterans were finally acknowledged with a medal in November 2022, the Ministry of Defence has always insisted the trials were planned with ‘meticulous’ care and that there is no evidence of ‘excess illness’ among those involved.

Having watched this week’s documentary, Michael said the Labour Government must now fulfil a promise to provide compensation and release blood test records, which would prove the British Government knew of the harm which the tests caused.

“When they were in Opposition they did promise that they would sort this out – Keir Starmer said he met with some of the veterans from the nuclear test veterans association, and promised that if they won the election they would get it sorted out. Of course, after they won it all died a death.

“The veterans’ association had previously taken out litigation against the British Government, but that was before the election, but that is still ongoing.

"So what they are hoping now is that if the Government release the blood test records, which they reckon they have got, they will pay compensation based on that, or failing that, start an independent tribunal which could go over all the evidence and make a decision which would be binding for the Government.

“But if the Government lose a legal case it’s going to cost them millions and millions of pounds, so they might decide that an offer, based on the contaminated blood and things like that.

“What surprised me was the PTSD that some of the survivors had – it’s terrible what was done to them, not only physically but mentally as well. It’s terrible.”

Among those veterans speaking in the BBC documentary was Archie Hart, who was shipmates with Michael’s father when it was forced to sail through nuclear fallout off the Montebello Islands, part of an archipelago near Western Australia.

Sadly, Michael said that the programme was unable to hear of more survivors due to the length of time in which the British Government have continued to deny any cover-up over the health implications.

He said: “There was more concentration on the Christmas Island Grapple tests, because obviously there are more survivors from that of veterans living up to now, whereas during my father’s time on HMS Diana, as part of Operation Mosaic, there are very few survivors. In fact they could only find that one chap that they interviewed. They showed the picture of Diana with all the officers on it, and I picked out my dad.”

The results of blood tests are believed to be the crucial aspect of proving knowledge about the dire health effects, but the Ministry of Defence has continually refused to release the records, even to the veterans themselves, on grounds of national security.
But veterans of HMS Diana may not have even undergone the blood tests which would have shown how badly their health was affected.

Michael explained: “They [the programme makers] concentrated a lot on the cover-up over the blood tests, but that was all for the Grapple veterans, whereas dad and his team on the Diana, they were supposed to get blood tests when they went back to Malta and the Mediterranean, but of course they got stuck up in Aden for a couple of months, and then the Suez Canal closed when the Suez Crisis broke out.

“But they could have easily sent a team out from Malta to Aden and taken all the crews’ blood tests there, which would have given a lot more emphasis to anyone from Diana who wanted to make a claim that their blood was damaged, as my father’s was, because he had leukaemia.

“I don’t think he was affected to the point that he passed on any genetic defects, but I think that the blood cancer which killed him was down to the radiation that he was exposed to – although it was probably a smaller dose than other veterans had when they had genetic defects with their children.”

While the Nuclear Test Veterans Association launched fresh legal action last year, Michael said the British Government cannot continue to deny knowledge for much longer, despite 14 years of Conservative administrations refusing to settle the matter.

Michael added: “The other thing that the documentary said was that every country which had people involved in these tests, they have already compensated them – the UK is the only one that hasn’t.

“I don’t think it can go on for much longer. The cat is out of the bag and they have to do something.”

Luke Pollard’s office was contacted for comment, but responses are being directed via the Ministry of Defence.

An MOD spokesperson said: “We recognise the huge contribution that Nuclear Test Veterans have made to national security. The government is committed to working with veterans and listening to their concerns.

“We have already amended the criteria for the commemorative Nuclear Test Medal to ensure those who took part in US atmospheric testing are also recognised.

“Ministers are looking hard at the issue – including the question of records. They will continue to engage with the individuals and families affected and as part of this engagement, the Minister of Veterans and People Alistair Carns has already met with parliamentarians and a Nuclear Test Veteran campaign group to discuss their concerns further.”

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