Ministry of Defence Faces Nuclear Bomb Claim: The MoD Faces £100m Claim by Atom Bomb Veterans

Between 1952 and 1958, around 25,000 British, Fijian and New Zealand soldiers were exposed to the fallout (the residual radiation hazard from nuclear explosions) from nuclear weapons test in the South Pacific. Now, QC Benjamin Browne is representing almost 1,000 military veterans who claim that they have suffered illnesses because of their exposure to the nuclear radiation.

Veterans Blame MoD for Illnesses Caused by Radiation Exposure

Claims by the veterans that they contracted cancer, fertility problems and skin defects are being taken to the High Court in order to try to win £100 million in compensation. One veteran has claimed that he contracted a rare blood disorder from the radiation which he passed on to his daughter. 52 ex-soldiers who were present in the South Pacific have died in the last 18 months alone since litigation began.

In their defence, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is refusing to accept any liability and have claimed that too much time has passed since the testing in 1957 on Christmas Island for the court case to be valid. The British government has claimed that the tests were carried out in such a way that very few servicemen were exposed to fallout radiation.

The claimants have answered the MoD's reasons for not paying out by saying that they have been waiting until scientific evidence for the link between their ailments and radiation had been released. They are only acting now because of new scientific information which has been just released.

Recent testing that has been carried out on a number of the veterans and it has been proven that some of the defects have been caused by radiation.

Another argument being put forward by the veterans is that they were not fully aware of the risks at the time. In one instance, the explosion had a yield seventy times bigger than the one they were expecting.

Actions of Other Countries on the Issue

New Zealand, and a number of other foreign governments have already spent time researching the issue and in some cases, have even paid compensation. According to the Rowland Study, carried out on a number of New Zealand atomic test veterans stated that most, if not all of those present at the tests have suffered genetic effects as a result of the radiation that they were exposed to.

The United States has given compensation under the US Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to veterans that were involved in nuclear testing during the 1960s.

The three week hearing will involve statements by at least ten veterans that claim they were not properly protected during the testing, and they claim that the MoD is responsible for this.

Feb 2, 2009 12:44 AM

Guest :

My Father saw 13 atom testings on Christmas Island in the early 60s. His name was Micheal John Parker. He was in the Royal Enginneers. He died on 26th May 2006 of prostrate(bowel)cancer. I was bourn with a hair lip, cleft pallet and a heart condition. I have often wondered if it was because of the bombs my father saw tested. However, when I enquired at the hospital if this could be the case they seemed to suggest that this was unlikely. Although they said it was a freak act, as it was not heireditory, also, my sister who is a year older is of good health. I was born in 1970. I thought this might be of intrest to you.
With regards, Victoria Parker.

Feb 23, 2009 7:42 AM

Guest :

I just saw this article. I was born in 1957 and my father went to the Christmas islands before that. My father died of a heart attack in 1987 which can hardly be relevant, but I contracted breast cancer in 1996. I wonder if there was a connection.
Janice Day

Feb 25, 2009 7:29 AM

Guest :

My father was present during the tests in 1957, he has suffered many illnesses duing the last 10-15 years which include heart attacks, skin blisters, black-outs, loss of balance, severe head aches & other strange simptoms that his GP & subsiquent hospital tests have failed to understand or recognise. In addition, my younger sister was born with deformed feet.
We all wonder if the tests have contributed to any of these medical conditions.
I'm sure it would have had an effect on those present, we have photographs of the bomb & pictures of my father in the clothing he was provided with at the time....it was just normal every day uniform.
In my opinion the government are fully aware that there is a case to answer here, there seems to little in the way of medical records available of those serving at the time, has this been hidden or distroyed? In addition there was a cleverly worded question posed on discharge that at the time most if not all would have said 'none' to, as at the time of release they were not aware of any illness - this was that question - "If you are suffering from any diseases, wound, or injuries, state what they are, and also when and where they first started…”,
If we were to carry out the same tests today what would the recommendations be for anyone that close to the explosions & can the government really expect us to believe that 'back then' they didn't know the risks.....I think not!
D Davies - Chester

Jun 5, 2009 12:21 PM

Guest :

my father was on christmas island he died june 30th 2008after suffering years of illness from a brain tumour my brother and myself are not in good health and three of my childern have leg problems this makes me very sad my fathers name was albert stokes we miss him very much just wish some one could help. susan busby x