N-bomb veterans welcome inquiry
Nov 5 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal
A VETERAN of Britain’s nuclear bomb tests has claimed a massive breakthrough in his fight for recognition.
John Taylor, 71, from Carnegie Close in Biddick Hall, South Shields, is among 900 former servicemen who were exposed to atomic radiation during the 1950s and 1960s.
Since then experts have estimated that one in three of those who were involved in the tests have developed cancer or a range of other health problems.
It is also thought that some of the veteran’s children have been born with missing or defective arms or legs.
In April, along with two other former-servicemen from Tyneside, Mr Taylor launched a multi-million-pound legal claim against the Ministry of Defence.
And this week it was announced the children and grandchildren of veterans could be asked to take part in the first major scientific study of its kind.
Last night Mr Taylor said he was “over the moon” that progress was being made.
He said: “They are going to have an inquiry and that is good news. It must involve everyone who was involved in those tests and should be comprehensive. I’m over the moon and I think all the people across the country will be too.”
Mr Taylor was only 20 when he travelled to Maralinga in the south of Australia as an RAF Leading Aircraftman in 1957.
He spent six months helping to organise the Antler atom bomb tests and during that time was one of 12,000 servicemen who witnessed atomic explosions in the 1950s and 1960s.
Last night he said the experience left him traumatised and concerned for the welfare of his children and grandchildren.
He said: “The main concern for me is if there is something wrong, then how will that affect the future of my family.
“It has been a worry for years now. I see people in the paper and you hear stories about people who were there dying of cancer and that’s my main concern.
“People have been really supportive about it all. People come up to you in the street and give you there support.”
Other claimants from the region include Bede Christopher McGurk, from Lawson Avenue, Jarrow, and Robert William Redman of Queens Crescent, Hebburn.
Mr Taylor, a grandfather-of-five, lives with his wife Mary, 66. He says his experience of the RAF has been soured by the “neglect” of the MoD.
He said: “I loved the RAF when I was there. In hindsight, it’s extremely worrying. We were seven miles away from different atom bomb explosions.”
John Lowe, chairman of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association, said: “This is a victory for something we have been fighting for for more than 20 years.”
