RAF veteran who saw nuclear tests gets medal 65 years later

“When the atomic bomb went off we could see the bones in our hands, and the sand on the edge of the beach turned to glass,” said Derek Harrison.

The former airfield electrician, 88, was stationed on Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Pacific ocean, for 10 months during the UK’s hydrogen and atomic bomb testing in the 1950s.

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Mr Harrison, who lives in Abingdon, said: “We were just being used as guinea pigs at the time. We were there to help out and do duties on the island; I did runway lighting.

“When the day of explosions came around, we were told to go onto the perimeter track, and make sure we wore long sleeve shirts and long trousers.

“We were instructed to sit down on the floor with our back to the blast. We saw the flash, and put our hands over our faces.

“The blast was horrendous. The atomic bombs were suspended from a balloon 20 miles away and the hydrogen bombs were dropped from an aeroplane. Palm trees bent over and there was dust everywhere.”

The father of three, grandfather of six and great grandfather of nine, received his Nuclear Test Medal in the post.

He said: “The medal is great, but compensation would be better. What annoyed me is that there was no ceremony. It just came through the post.

“It had the stringer attached but no way of pinning it onto anything, so I had to send it off to get a pin attached.

“I would have loved to be invited for a proper presentation. I know the Deputy Lieutenant presented medals in Stafford.”

Mr Harrison has suffered from skin cancer on and off over the last 20 years, claiming it has been difficult to get anyone to believe it may be from radiation.

He added: “My first diagnosis of skin cancer was 20 years ago. I’ve been referred again. I’ve had quite a bit of skin cancer. Doctors say it wasn’t atomic weapons that caused it. They say the sun caused it.

“A lot of my friends have died since then, I’m the lucky one to be 88 and still here.”

Mr Harrison has been married to his 86-year-old wife, Ivy for 67 years. 

The couple wed in 1956, their first child Julie was born a year later, and the RAF man was sent to Christmas Island the following year.

Mr Harrison, from Hampshire, the recipient of a long service medal, said: “My father was a major in the army, his father was too, and his brothers were too.

“My two sons went into the navy. My eldest, Robert, did seven years, came out and joined the Metropolitan Police, and now works in security for Prince Edward.

“My youngest son David did 22 years in the navy, he’s now a civilian chief engineer, and my daughter Julie used to work for the foreign secretary.”

Mr Harrison told the Oxford Mail he really enjoyed his time in the forces.

He added: “After Christmas Island, we had a tour in Germany as a family, and a year in Bahrain, then Cyprus for three years.

“My children have all done very well in their life, and moving around hasn’t affected my family at all. I think it’s a fallacy that moving kids around when they’re young is bad for them, it’s actually helpful, it gives them a varied life.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We are grateful to all service personnel who participated in the British nuclear testing programme and contributed to keeping our nation secure and are pleased that they will now be receiving a medal in recognition of this.

“Nuclear test veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to service have the right to apply for no-fault compensation under the War Pensions Scheme.”

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1