Radiation’s cruel legacy to Australian soldiers

Many of the servicemen began dying of horrific cancers, while others, like Bob, passed their damaged genes onto their children

Nuclear tests ravage family’s health Nine News 24 April 11, A Perth family has been plagued by serious illness and premature deaths for three generations, after inheriting damaged genes from a serviceman used as a human guinea pig for British nuclear tests in Australia more than half a century ago.

The children of late RAAF serviceman Bob Williamson are now one of 250 Australian families joining British veterans to sue the UK’s Ministry of Defence for the devastating atomic experiments in the 1950s.

Their family has suffered cancers, tumours and illness across three generations, but they are not alone.

Bob Williamson was among thousands of soldiers unwittingly exposed to dangerous amounts of radiation when they took part in the testing in remote parts of Australia.

Then Prime Minister Robert Menzies gave Winston Churchill the go ahead to trial a total of 21 nuclear weapons on the country’s soil.

The radioactive fallout poisoned land at places like Maralinga in South Australia and the Monte Bello islands in Western Australia.

The Australian soldiers taking part didn’t stand a chance. Often wearing little more than shorts and shirts, they were simply told to turn their backs when the scientists detonated bombs.

Many of the servicemen began dying of horrific cancers, while others, like Bob, passed their damaged genes onto their children……http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8240695/nuclear-tests-ravage-familys-health

April 24, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, health