The Mayor of Bexley, Cllr Ahmet Dourmoush hosted a reception last week (26 February) for four local ex-servicemen to recognise their service during the UK’s nuclear testing programme in the 1950’s and 60’s.
Representative Deputy Lieutenant, Mr David Easton DL and Mayoress Mrs Elmaz Dourmoush attended the event that welcomed the men who received their Nuclear Test Medals late last year.
The Mayor said:
I was extremely grateful to have this long overdue opportunity to express our Borough’s gratitude for their service and sacrifice and to recognise the award of their medals. It was wonderful to listen to the moving stories told by these brave men who had all been part of the testing operations.”
The reception for four ex-servicemen and their families was held in the Civic Offices.
Present were:
- Peter Fowler
Royal Airforce - Balloon Unit - William Howser
Royal Airforce - Cook - George Thompson
Royal Engineers - Brian Unthank
Royal Airforce - Cook
Special thanks were given at the event to Ken and Di Sprowles of the Royal British Legion Bexleyheath and Welling Branch and Karen Black, a daughter of one of the medal recipients for putting the Mayor’s office in touch with the veterans.
To qualify for the Nuclear Test Medal, individuals need to have served at locations where atmospheric testing took place during the UK's atomic and thermonuclear development programmes between 1952 and 1967, on one of the following test operations:
- Operation HURRICANE – October 1952, Montebello Islands, Western Australia
- Operation TOTEM – October 1953, Emu Field, South Australia
- Operation MOSAIC – June 1956, Montebello Islands, Western Australia
- Operation BUFFALO – September – October 1956, Maralinga, South Australia
- Operation GRAPPLE – May 1957 – September 1958, Malden Island, Kiribati
- Operation ANTLER – September – October 1957, Maralinga, South Australia
Although the UK did not conduct nuclear testing after 1957, eligibility for the medal covers not just participation in the tests themselves, but also in the preparation and clean-up phases. The medal can also be awarded to any UK personnel who participated in Operation DOMINIC, a series of atmospheric nuclear tests undertaken by the United States between April and October 1962.
To be awarded, the recipient should have served either as a member of the armed forces, or as civilian personnel in one of the named operational areas. Recipients from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Kiribati are also eligible. The medal can be awarded posthumously.