A Norfolk grandfather made ill by radiation tests more than 50 years ago has been given new hope in his fight for justice.
David Freeman, 69, from Thorpe St Andrew, was among thousands of men present on Christmas Island in the South Pacific during atom bomb tests in November 1957.
He claims the radiation from the nuclear testing has affected both his health and that of his children and grandchildren and has been fighting for an apology from the MoD for what happened and recognition that he and thousands of others took part in the tests.
The issue has been taken up by Norwich North MP Ian Gibson who, in conjunction with John Baron, MP for Billericay, conducted an inquiry into the consequences of the veterans' exposure to radiation in the 1950s and 1960s.
The inquiry was praised by the parliamentary under-secretary of state for defence Kevan Jones, who indicated an update on the issue for veterans and families would be made in the next few weeks.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr Jones said he hoped to make an announcement before Christmas which would "move the process on".
Mr Freeman, who joined the RAF in Norwich aged 17, was just 18 years old when he spent six months on Christmas Island in 1957 and was knocked off his feet by the 1.8 megaton Grapple bomb.
He said: "We've been fighting for more than 50 years and some people have lost their lives but all we get is people saying that because of our age and the length of time after it happened it's nothing to do with the bomb.
"This is very crafty and the government's way of shoving it to one side. It's not until we get an MP like a little terrier like Ian Gibson that something might be done."
Mr Freeman has suffered with his health over the years, with spinal problems, a heart attack and an aortic aneurism. He said that like many people in his situation it was difficult to know whether any of his problems were a direct result of his time on Christmas Island.
"My family and I have gone through hell over the years," he said. "Every time there's a baby born, you're checking to see it's got everything it should have, like fingers and toes and limbs.
"We would like a public apology by somebody in authority. We want somebody to stand up and say they recognise they did wrong. They put the men through something they shouldn't have."
The report by the two MPs, released a year ago, said that since the tests the veterans had expressed concern about long-term damage to their health and their families. They called for an inquiry in the light of new scientific evidence.
Dr Gibson said: "One of the logistical problems that we came up against was finding out where veterans were, which is why it is very important they have been invited along, because they may be able to help in finding out where all those folks live now, so that we can get decent numbers. Perhaps we will get to the bottom of this once and for all."
Between 1952 and 1967 the United Kingdom carried out a number of tests of nuclear weapons in the Pacific Ocean and at Maralinga, Australia, involving more than 20,000 servicemen.
Among these tests were the Grapple Y and Grapple Z series of six detonations at Christmas Island off the coast of Australia of weapons many times more powerful than those discharged at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Ü Are you a Christmas Island veteran fighting for justice? Call Evening News reporter Rebecca Gough on 01603 772428 or email rebecca.gough@archant.co.uk
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