Nuclear veterans who bravely participated in dangerous missions amidst radioactive fallout in the Pacific will soon receive recognition through a special medal. These veterans, numbering in the hundreds, meticulously tracked and documented large-scale nuclear detonations conducted by France and China in the Pacific region while serving in the Royal Air Force and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Previously excluded from eligibility for the nuclear test medal due to stricter criteria established by a prior government, these individuals will now be honored for their vital contributions.
Acknowledging the invaluable role played by the nuclear test veterans in ensuring the security and freedoms of the UK, Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the nation’s overdue debt of gratitude towards them. The initiative to award the nuclear test medal, introduced in 2023 following a five-year campaign led by the Mirror, has so far been conferred to nearly 6,000 veterans who participated in British bomb tests on locations such as Australia and Christmas Island between 1952 and 1967.
The scope of the medal’s eligibility is expanding to include civilian crews from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary who monitored explosions at sea, as well as RAF crews involved in intelligence gathering during French tests until 1974 and Chinese tests until 1980. Many of these veterans have since reported health issues, including cancer, with subsequent generations also experiencing birth defects.
One such hero, John Cammish, who served as a ground crew chief in the RAF’s photographic reconnaissance squadron, tragically succumbed to cancer linked to radiation exposure. His widow, Lucy, expressed her happiness at the long-awaited recognition of their sacrifices. The decision to extend the Medal for Heroes to more nuclear veterans fulfills a promise made by the Labour government and is a testament to the relentless efforts of campaign groups like LABRATS and the Mirror.
Despite the positive development, some veterans have declined to accept the medal, citing concerns about exclusionary criteria and the timing of the announcement. Colin Duncan, an RAF ground crew member involved in French tests, advocates for the medal’s extension to all veterans and its elevation to a full military honor. Barry Fagg, who worked on decontaminating planes after French hydrogen bomb flights, refuses to apply for the medal, emphasizing the lack of protection and information provided during their service.
The Mirror continues to advocate for justice for victims of the Nuked Blood Scandal, revealing the exploitation of nuclear veterans in radiation experiments. Efforts are underway to ensure that the health impacts and mortality rates of those involved in foreign nuclear tests are thoroughly investigated and included in government studies on nuclear veterans.
Interested individuals can apply for the medal through the official government website.