Roll of Honour

David was RAF, and at the age of 22 he was posted to Christmas Island 5/7/58 - 30/4/59. He was based at Main camp.  

Michael was part of RAF coastal command, he was on the island for Grapple Y aged 18.  

Royal Navy, He was a leading Stoker onboard HMS Tracker during Operation Hurricane.   

Photo HMS Tracker leaving Portsmouth

RAF. John was based on Penrhyn atoll during Operation Grapple, his role was to test fish caught by the native inhabitants for radioactivity. Travelling on HMS Messina to Malden Island to collect the testing equipment then taken to the Penrhyn Jun/Jul 1957, about 420miles away.  

Photo testing fish on board HMS Messina

"It is with great sadness that I have to report the loss of two local veterans, Colin Barraclough and John Woodman. Our thoughts are with both Joyce and Pat on their sad loss." 

Dave Riley, BNTVA Portsmouth Branch April 1996

24 March 1936 -18 October 2008

Archie was the leader of the Tjarutja  people, the native Australians who owned the land that the Maralinga test range covered. He led the fight to have  his peoples’ ancestral lands returned to them, and to have the land cleaned up, so they could live their lives in the traditional way. 

Extract from Campaign, March 2009

S/Ldr Bob Bates (Valiant B(K) 1, XD825) and his crew carried out Grapple Y test, 24th April 1958. 

This was an air burst test over the ocean near Christmas Island. The height of the burst was 8,250 feet with a yield of 3.0 Megatons.  

Raymond served on RFA Olna during Operation Grapple

Served with the Royal Engineers on Christmas Island 1958 for Operation Grapple.  

94 Company RASC, Operation Grapple 1958-59 

Photo BNTVA Magazine, Christmas 1993

"Four old mates meet up at the annual general meeting in Blackpool this year-(left to right) Peter Bennett, Bernie Sheen, Mike Reidand Laurie Yeo of the 94 Company RASC, Christmas Island 1958-59."  

Stanley was the RAF Chaplain, for Church of St Nicholas on the Island in 1959/60. 

He was greatly admired, respected and loved by his parishioners. While on the island he suffered severe skin rashes which required weeks in a hospital in Hawaii to treat. 

Stanley died on Trinity Sunday 1980 - his fortieth anniversary of ordination,  It was only after his death that the consultant was able to tell us that the primary had been in his adrenal gland: an extremely rare starting point for cancer. 

- Excerpt taken from a tribute to SBG [click here to read his full story] 

William came to the Island aged 19 and served with the RAF on the Hastings for 12 months, 4 months of which were based at the forward airstrip close to the dropping zone.    

John served on HMS Narvik 1956 and witnessed the G1 and G2 tests at Operation Mosaic. 

Photo from BNTVA Magazine Sept 1995

"Pictured are (from left to right): Ken Taylor, Eric Kellaway, Les Hawkins, John Berry and Terry Harding. They were taking time to remember the dead servicemen in the Garden of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey after attending the annual Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony at The Cenotaph in London."

formally of the BNTVA West Yorkshire Branch. passed 1997

Royal Navy Christmas Island 1958

Clipping from Express and Star 29/6/88

"N-test veteran wins fight for protest badge royal crown Nuclear test veterans have been given the go-ahead to wear 1  a badge carrying the  symbol of the royal crown above a picture of a radiation mushroom cloud. The award of the symbol is all thanks to Tom Birch, the West Midlands secre­tary of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association."   

Served on Christmas Island in 1958 in the MT section. Passed away April 15th 1984 from stomach cancer. A brilliant man, who would help anybody, taken away for helping his country. Rest in Peace.

The photograph shows several lads enjoying themselves and really getting

into the Christmas spirit.

Well, then picture came from Mrs Betty Blower and it shows three Christmas Island veterans enjoying a Christmas day fancy dress. One of the men in the

picture is her late husband Geoff, who was a Chief Petty Officer, shore-based on Christmas Island.

Geoff, who sadly passed away in 1978, is the one in the centre carrying the witch

- BNTVA Magazine Sept 1996

Grapple Veteran Kenneth served in the Royal Navy for 12 years, on the Island he operated the fishing boat and he later worked as an engineer at Padiham Power Station. He was widely travelled and the couple spent a period living in Libya where Mr Boothman assisted the Libyans with a desalination plant. he passed away 27/03/2016 

Stanley was a part of the AWRE team at Operation Hurricane 1952, Operation Totem 1953 and Operation Grapple 1957. 

He was also present for the start of minor trails at Maralinga 1955. 

He had joined the Army on April 1, 1943, which he described as ‘a silly day to join up.’ He became a forward observation signaller with the Royal Artillery, and was up front with the infantry in various campaigns and countries, including being in Normandy shortly after D-Day.

From there, he went onto Belgium and then on to Germany. He was also involved in the Battle of Arnhem in 2016 the French government awarded him the Legion d’Honneur medal for his service in Normandy

Stanley died at Basingstoke hospital on 6th February 2019 aged 94 after having Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Stanleys Obituary can be read [Here]

*The BNTVA have uploaded Stanleys photos to the website and they can be found in the Collections & Archives section.* 

It is with great sorrow that I have to 

announce the death of David Brian 

Boyfield 4189717 sac. He died on the 

21 May 2016 with myself, his wife at 

his side. 

He had suffered from terminal lung 

cancer and he had Charles Bonnet 

Syndrome. He bore his illness silently 

as he didn’t want pity from any one.

David was cremated on 21 June which 

was attended by myself, family and 

many Friends .

Barbara Boyfield (Mrs)

Campaign Magazine Summer 2016

73 Christmas Island Sqd RE 1959-60

James's widow Marjory wote to us to inform the BNTVA her husband had died 25th Jan 2008 from Lung cancer. He was a private with the Royal Engineers 1957-59. This photo was taken in 1958.  

He was one of the Royal Engineers who were sent to the Monte Bello Islands on HMS Narvik.  

Grapple Veteran Tony served on Christmas Island in the MT section in 1957 and 1958, he witnessed Grapple X and Y tests. He had a fantastic sense of humour and would always be there to help anyone who needed it. He had many varying cancers over the years, but he finally lost his battle against a secondary cancer with an unknown primary origin. He fought with dignity to the end and made us eternally proud of him. He will be sadly missed by everyone whose lives he touched. 

Geoff Butler was a sapper with 71 Fld Sqn re and took part in Operation Hurricane in 1952. He sailed in HMS Zeebrugge, and lived on the island for 5 months with the RAAF. He watched the test from HMS Narvik and landed on the explosion site closest to Plym with two others only 2 hours after the test to recover rocket head/scoops that had been fired into the cloud.  After arrivng back in England in 1953 he was posted to Kenya, East Africa. He left the service and emigrated to Western Australia in 1956. Geoff was always certain that the radiation from the bomb test was responsible for the illness's in his children. The first child dying shortly after birth. His wife Ida died a couple of years before he did. He leaves two daughters, both live in Western Australia. Geoff was born on 7th July 1929. He passed away on 5th October 1998. May he Rest In Peace.

William Calder aka “Jock” born 12/6/1938

He served aboard HMS Diana during the explosions 1956. He served in the Navy from 1955 until 1963 becoming a PTI (physical training instructor).

He went onto University to gain a BA and became a teacher and latterly a school headmaster.

He sadly died at the early age of only 44 years in 1983.

Remembered by his son Alan. 

further photos,  https://www.bntva.com/operation-mosaic

The late Sgt. Ian Gordon Campbell was in the REME. I have found many photos of his army days and have managed to discover some details of Operation Hurricane. He would have been proud to be remembered and honoured on this Roll of Honour.

Ronald Cassidy. 23217601. 

Salford man Ronnie was posted to Christmas Island from 6th June 1956 as part of the Op Grapple advance party. 

He served as an amphibious DUKW driver in the Royal Army Service Corps working alongside 55 Field Squadron Royal Engineers. 

He remained on Christmas Island during the tests of Grapple 1 in May and June of 1957 before returning to the UK in late June of that year. 

He sadly passed away on 28th July 1994 aged 57 Years, after having bravely battled with lung cancer. 

He is deeply missed by his family.

Passed away (nasopharynxial carcinoma) 1995

Hurricane Veteran was on HMS Campania 

Seamen Ronald Dunwell had dementia so, spent a lot of his time reliving his time in the Royal Marines, during Operation Hurricane his job was to take a boat and transport the scientists from their bunker to a ship.. He said "he thought it funny that the scientists were in white suits, hoods and gloves and him and his mate Butch were wearing short sleeved shirts and shorts". They were told to cover their eyes with their hands when he explosion went off but most of them wanted to watch it after the initial blast. He said "it was weird that the mushroom cloud started drifting and forming an irregular shape". 

22/11/34-17/11/23

Les was a chef in the army catering core on Malden Island and Christmas Island and also a member of a skiffle band who entertained the troops. He sailed on TT Cheshire from Liverpool. His best memory was listening to his beloved Aston Villa beat Man United in 1957 FA Cup Final.

Cpl Norman (Nobby) Emmott 38 Engineer Regiment Operation Grapple Christmas Island Veteran Remembered by his son, Mark: My father Nobby Emmott passed away surrounded by his family on 29 Dec 16. He was a proud veteran of Operation Grapple and served for 12 months 

Photo from BNTVA Magazine April 1997 

happy bunch of Sappers above from 38 CER on Christmas Island in May 1958 sent by Ex-CpI Emmott NC 

Royal Air Force - Maralinga

1956 - 1958

ADMINISTRATION

Christmas Island Veteran Passed away peacefully at home aged 67 years in 2008, After a long fight with ill health and  acute myeloid leukaemia.  “and all because they were doing there best for their country, the country has forgotten about what they have done." 

A Lancashire Man Peter George Fletcher MBE 1936 - 2007.  A Montebello Veteran 1952, a sapper with the Royal Engineers. Co-Founder and Vice-Chairman of BNTVA from its inception on 5th May 1983. Since 1988. 

Peter is pictured with his wife Hilda, on receiving his M.B.E. for services to the British Nuclear tests Veterans Association (from BNTVA Magazine March 1998) 

Spr Frank Furlong RE died 13/10/52 and buried on Hermite Island Monte Bello Islands. Exhumed and reinterred at Onslow cemetery in 1953.

Widows Representative BNTVA Mavis Gardner was very active within the BNTVA she worked as the Widows Representative for many years as well as running the East Midlands Branch with her friend Marilyn Hall 

Stoker Mechanic on HMS Narvik D.O.B.19/03/34

Robert was a Sapper (No.23514596) with the Royal Engineers, and was stationed at Christmas Island from March to December 1958 during which time he was exposed to five nuclear tests, the last three working as a power station operator at the end of the runway in the decontamination area. Missed dreadfully.

 John Served on Christmas Island in 1957, he was diagnosed in 1992 as having the disease Mulitiple Myeloma and he died 10th January 1998 aged 58. John served his country all his life, after leaving the R.A.F he joined the Police Force and retired in 1990 after 30 years service. He then joined the Civil Staff as a Coroners Officer. Everyone who knew John will remember him as a true friend, who had time for others and who could always raise a laugh, even when he was going through a lot of pain himself.

Roy was a 22yr old Royal Engineer Cpl who was sent to CI 6th May 1959 and returned 5th May 1960. 

Group Captain Peter Langridge Harris CBE AE ADC DL CEng FIET

[Remembered by James Harris] 

My Uncle Peter participated in Op Grapple 1,2,3,X,Y & Z. He worked for Decca Navigator Co. Ltd 1955–59 and was posted to Christmas Island for the Op Grapple series of tests, responsible for establishing the Decca Chain. He was also RAFVR and later RAuxAF, becoming ADC to Queen 1984-88 and Inspector RAuxAF 1983-88. He passed away 16th January 2017.

https://rauxaf.org/group-captain-peter-harris-cbe-ae-bsc-ceng-fiee/

Chris served with the Royal Engineers 73 Squadron on Christmas Island 1958-59. 

He was instrumental in designing a water system on the island, he subsequently went on to  work on the oil rigs and then set up his own Land Rover business in South Africa during the 1980’s. 

In 2012 he moved back over the the UK with his wife. 

He recived the Nuclear Test Medal shortly before passing away on the 18th November 2023, after a long battle with cancer.   

1938-2020

Bob was the BNTVA Organisation Manager and later took the position of Secretary. He was a great asset to the Association, and in 2018 retired from the BNTVA as a trustee.

He continued working for the benefit and wellbeing of British nuclear test veterans and their families by becoming a Trustee of the NCCF. Bob was the first person to be given an NCCF honorary lifetime membership.

Bob's passing is a loss to his three daughters, Janet, Diane and Angela, the NCCF, the BNTVA and the cause of the British nuclear test veterans. Members relate how Bob was such an approachable and friendly man.

Brian Served on Christmas Island 1958/59 with 20 Fld Sqd Royal Engineers, 36 Corp Eng Regt. Brian passed away on the 10th of September 2003. Deeply missed by his family and friends. Heartfelt sympathy from all his Army Mates.

Stationed in Northern Ireland at the time and sent to Christmas Island to help service the aircraft taking part in the test.

 Anthony was Royal Navy seconded to the RAF for radio operation, as a leading Hand Radio Operator on the Island during detonations  of Grapple X and Y, 57/58 he was 19 years old. 

He passed away from a rare cancer on 28/6/22.

He is fondly remembered by his wife Maria. 

David E Kidd, witnessed Grapple 1, 2 and 3 - celebrating his 19th birthday on Christmas Island. He served in the RAF from 1956 until 1993, completing his service as a Warrant Officer. He died in August 2015 from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

He is remembered by his family with great affection and is missed everyday.

Officer Steward, P/L966011. H.M.S Warrior

22nd January 1957-31st December 1957. D.O.B: 25/7/1939. Deceased as a result of tests,17 December 1968 aged 29.

Cpl Dennis Leafe, 94 Company RASC Stationed on Christmas Island June 1958 to June 1959 when he was aged 22/23. He witnessed 3 atomic bomb tests and 2 hydrogen bomb tests. 

He left the army on his return from Christmas Island in 1959 and spent the rest of his life living happily in Nottingham until July 2018 when he died at the age of 82.

William was present at Grapple X, affectionately known as Bill or Yorkie, he died in 2008, leaving a caring wife and five wonderful children. 

Richard (Dick) Lock, served on Christmas Island 1959 -1961 he sadly passed away on 22nd November 2014 from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, remembered by his daughter Allison. 

Photo from when he was president of The Royal Naval Association in Whitstable Kent 

Percy Marks  (DOB – 18/10/1938)

Service number - 4198933

RAF – Senior Aircraftsman(squadron unknown)

He served on Christmas Island – 1958-59 – Operation Grapple(Zulu)

Died – 19th August 1997

Remembered by his Daughter Carolyn Green. 

John McClure was a Sapper with 71 Fld Sqn RE and was on the first bomb test Operation Hurricane on the Monte Bello Islands. He was billetted on HMS Zeebrugge. John was born on 29/4/32 and died on 5/12/02. He lived in Perth WA for many years and is survived by his wife and three daughters

Born 19th December 1933. Passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on January 23, 2018 aged 84 years. 

 Diagnosed in March 2007 with Methanolysis cancer and died peacefully at home with his beloved wife Sheila beside him on 15th December 2007. Brit served at Christmas Island and was a proactive member of the British Atomic Veterans Association.

This is Peter Newby's story

"We are now at Kure, South Japan, about two days trip south ofTokyo. It is a big ex-Jap naval base and used to be one of their largest. We are in company with another destroyer, HMS Ullyses and an Aussie cruiser, HMAS Hobart. We arrived yesterday and stay for a few days returning to Yokohama on 7th January.

"This place is very near Hiroshima and today the American authorities ran a special train to take a hundred of us on the 10 mile journey to Hiroshima to see the atomic bomb damage. I went along too and spent this afternoon looking over the place. The train was a good one with first class carriages. On the way I saw rice fields and neatly laid out villages. We arrived at Hiroshima about

1pm. Part of the station still remains so we could ride right there.

"Stepping from the train is like entering a strange new world where life does not exist - it’s rather creepy. For about 10 square miles one could see nothing but eerie looking blackened tree stumps and rubble - a strange sort of desert. Everything looks as if it has been subjected to terrific heat and everything you touch crumbles to dust. My pal and I pushed a ten feet high concrete gate

post and it just fell over and disappeared in a cloud of brittle pieces and dust. There is nothing solid. 

"Huge stretches of ground have been turned into a green crystalline substance which crunches as you walk on it. You can make out the remains of a bus or tramcar here and there but when you touch the twisted metal which remains, it just collapses. I picked up a half inch steel bar and snapped it like a piece offirewood. All metal looks a blueish-green colour, caused by the tremendous

heat no doubt. "The whole place has a cold emptiness and not a single bird or animal can be seen. I was informed that sixty thousand people were just obliterated in the fraction of a second. I expect they were burnt to dust as no bodies were found." 

Assigned to SOG "Antler", my father witnessed and photographed the first Monte Bello test from ground level and was involved in collecting cloud samples. One of his recollections was of viewing a test and feeling the warm wind from it blow passed him. He survived a near fatal thyroid problem in 1983 but sadly passed away on December 22nd 1998, following heart surgery. Forever missed.

Royal Navy - Christmas Island

Operation Dominic 1961-62

Died Aged 52 - 1994

James is remembered by his daughters Wendy, Diane and Denise ... "Dad was in Maralinga 1962-63 and served in the Air Force for 30 years.

Jim joined the RAF in 1948 as a cook, he served around the world including his last foreign posting at Maralinga 1963. 

He died in 1989 from a rare cancer linked to radiation exposure.  

It is with a sad heart I must give you the news the legend, my hero who was my dad has passed away quietly in his sleep on 2-9-2022 - JAMES JOHN PRICE (JIM) 

Jim served on HMS Tyrian, and HMS Scarborough and was at Christmas Island. Dad was one of the good ones and will be missed by all that had the honour of knowing him. God bless you dad. My mum didn't want to be without dad and sadly passed away the next day. RIP together always, x 

- remembered by their daughter Danielle

Chris ran the Merseyside branch and worked closely with Ken McGinley and Peter Fletcher during early years of the BNTVA. 

26th December 2015 Grapple Veteran My father, Bernard Michael Salisbury (known as Michael) passed away today December 26th 2015. He had been long suffering with COPD and the effects of pneumoconiosis, which I'm sure wasn't helped by his exposure to the after effects

Royal Air Force, 76 Sqdn Canberras

Operations: Buffalo & Grapple

Decontamination Team Leader

RAF Maralinga & Edinburgh Field, 1956 – 1957

Reg passed away at the Royal County Hospital, Winchester on 3rd December 2021, aged 87; having suffered many years from cancers, he survived several removal operations and many radiation treatments, in both Canada and the UK. He finally succumbed to the long term effects of the cancers and Prostrate cancer.

Henry George Sheppard (RAF) died aged 70 years on the 7th January 2010. A Husband, Father, Grandfather and Great Grandfather, remembered always by his beloved wife of over 50 years Barbara Jean Sheppard and their five children, Stephen, Garry, Robert, Marie and Michael, may he rest in peace.

"Until We Meet Again" by H G Sheppard

Take away the heartache, the tears and all the pain

But leave me with your memory, until we meet again...

In his later years, Henry recorded his life in “My Little Book of Poems” by H G Sheppard, with all proceeds from the book donated to The Shropshire Air Ambulance.

03/05/1939-31/01/2016 Grapple Veteran RAF James is remembered by his daughter Kim with these words: James Thomson, born 03/05/1939 and passed on 31/01/2016, spent 25 years serving in the RAF, he had many postings including Operation Grapple on Christmas Island. 

Ivor served in the Royal Navy and was in Christmas Island during the clear up of operation Grapple. Sadly passed away 2023 aged 82 from Multiple System Atrophy.

Remembered by his daughter Jane. 

 John joined the R.A.F. at 17 and worked as a radar technician, serving on Christmas and Malden Islands in 1958. John witnessed operation Grapple X and was plagued by ill health from the moment he returned to the UK. John finally lost his long and courageous battle against multiple illnesses including radiation skin rashes on the 17th November 2008. He is much loved and will be missed by all.

On Sunday 14th May 2017 Gordon William Wilson finally lost his twenty yearlong bravely fought battle with Cancer and passed peacefully surrounded by his family. He was a Veteran of the Nuclear Tests in Australia and served with the Royal Engineers

Operation Grapple : Christmas Island.

RAF : Served 1955-59, re enlisted 1970, discharged 1992.

Born 1937. Died 11/11/2011

Told me stories of Christmas Island and seeing the bones in his arms and hands when covering his eyes when witnessing the detonation.

remembered by his daughter Kay Winfield. 

Nuclear Veteran Stan Wheldale passed away in St James Infirmary, Leeds on the 16th April 2016 – aged 80 with his wife by his side. He served in RAF Signals, first during National Service and then as a regular – serving from 1956 until 1979. Stan was posted to Christmas Island

Walter ‘Slinger’ Wood, came from Clitheroe in Lancashire and was a stoker on board HMS Messina for the Christmas Island bomb tests. 

He was a big strong man, and was part of the Devonport Field Gun Crew carrying the wheel. 

He served 7 years in the RN. He lived in Manchester and Todmorden and in 2006 emigrated to New Zealand. He had a ruptured ulcer in the 1970’s but thankfully lived, he also had skin cancer and later on a battle with Multiple Myeloma.  

Sadly he lost in May 2010 at the age of 69. He is sadly missed by his widow Shelagh, daughters Angela, Lisa and Adele as well as sons in laws and grand children.

- Walter is on the left in the photo.  

Roy served on HMS Plym, the ship that carried the atomic bomb to the Monte Bello islands and was vaproised by the explosion. Roy was a great campainer with the BNTVA but he unfortuntly passed away 2020 during the pandemic.

Nuclear Test Veteran Sam Wright passed away in June 2014 as a result of a massive stroke. He was passionate about the vets and told many stories about Christmas Island. He is sadly missed by his family and friends.