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Voices of British Nuclear Test Veterans

Uncover the history of British nuclear test operations in Australia and the Pacific through life story recordings with veterans, civilians and scientists.

Naval and scientific personnel wearing anti-flash gear, sitting on the floor and all looking in the same direction. A few men are standing up.

Listen to nuclear test veterans speak about their recruitment, living and working on the test sites, how it felt to experience nuclear detonations and the legacies of their participation in British test operations in the 1950s and 1960s.

Set within a series of articles, 66 audio clips reveal how the backgrounds, careers and personal lives of veterans have shaped their experiences and their campaigns for recognition. The articles are written by family members, key figures in the veterans’ campaigns and researchers specialising in the history of Britain’s test programme.

The clips are from an oral history project by University of South Wales and University of Liverpool, and archived by National Life Stories at the British Library.

Articles

Read about the experiences of British nuclear test veterans and hear their recollections in their own words in these articles.

Navy personnel observe the mushroom cloud of Grapple Y whilst on deck.

British nuclear test veterans

Who are the British nuclear test veterans? Drawing on life story recordings, this article explores how and veterans signed up to take part in nuclear tests.

A curving map of the Australian continent, focusing on the space between Woomera in South Australia and the Monte Bello Islands in Western Australia.

Journey into the unknown: Nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific

This article explores veterans’ expectations of Australia and the Pacific, as well as what they knew of Britain’s nuclear programme.

Three soldiers in khaki sit on top of a large deloused mine, with the words 'A-Bomb Stand Clear' daubed on it.

Living and working near a nuclear test site

Living and working near nuclear test sites proved challenging. Hear veterans’ memories of serving their country and the hazardous conditions at test sites.

Bluegill detonation fireball over Christmas Island with palm trees and the lagoon in the foreground.

What was it like to experience a nuclear detonation?

Listen to nuclear test veterans as they reflect on the moment of detonation. What was it really like to witness a nuclear test?

The main runway and terminal at Maralinga.

Returning home: veterans and fallout from the past

Participation in nuclear tests has shaped veterans’ careers, family lives, health and well-being. What became of these men in the aftermath of these nuclear tests?

Seven veterans and three of their wives pose for a photograph to celebrate wearing the Nuclear Test Medal. They are holding up a multi-coloured scarf, which is designed to replicate the colours of the medal ribbon, which themselves were selected to symbolise a British nuclear bomb test.

Test veterans and nuclear justice

Veterans have campaigned for recognition and compensation for their experiences at testing sites. Drawing on oral history interviews, we explore these campaigns.

Eight men stand in front of the bright light of a mushroom cloud.

Reflections over time: The legacies of nuclear test participation

Exploring the impact of being a nuclear test veteran. How has it affected veterans’ life choices in the aftermath and their feelings about nuclear weapons?

Three stone headstones stand in line to commemorate nuclear test veterans. They have black inserts, and text that recognises the different sites on which veterans served.

Recognition for nuclear test veterans

Nuclear test veterans reflect on what they understand ‘recognition’ to mean in relation to their participation in the nuclear test programme.

Further information

John L Stanier at Maralinga, collecting samples from a radioactive area whilst wearing protective clothing.

About the project

The entire crew of HMS Diana pose for a photograph on the main deck.

The interviewees

Rural landscape with an electricity pylon in the middleground and trees in the foreground and middleground.

National Life Stories

Voices of British Nuclear Test Veterans is generously supported by

National Life Stories logo, black writing next to the red and white British Library logo
NTV logo with 'an oral history' written next to it, with a series of overlapping circles
University of Liverpool logo, gold and blue text next to the crest, which features three birds and a book
University of South Wales logo, white text on red background, in English and then Welsh

Header image: Naval and scientific personnel in anti-flash gear prior to a detonation in the Grapple 1, 2 and 3 series off Malden Island. Photo: Anthony Broomfield.