Antinuclear

Cancer in Australia’s soldier witnesses of Monte Bello atomic bomb tests

AUDIO: Atom bomb veterans mark anniversary (PM)

Atom bomb veterans remember life-changing blast ABC News Radio 4 Oct 12, PM  By Brendan Trembath Sixty years since Britain tested its first atom bomb in Australia, those who witnessed the blast – many who now have cancer – have reunited to talk about how it changed their lives. The veterans are still seeking an apology from the Federal Government and appropriate health care for them and their children.

Official records say those serving on the HMAS Murchison on October 3, 1952, were 70 miles away when Britain successfully detonated an atomic bomb on the Monte Bello islands, off the coast of the Pilbara in Western Australia.

But to this day, many who were there say they were much closer.

Michael Rowe was on board the ship and remembers the moment the bomb went off.

“We were told to face east, which we did, and then we were told we could turn around and face west and we saw the first British atom bomb go off,” he said…… “We were clothed to protect ourselves in a pair of shorts and sandals. That’s all,” he said.

Mr Rowe is also among those who say they were much closer to ground zero than what is officially recorded and he has photos which he says proves it. “There’s been big arguments over the years about how far away the Murchison was from the actual bomb site, but I had a little tiny camera that I had hidden down inside my shorts and I took a photograph of that bomb going off, a very clear photograph of the bomb going off,” he said.

“All the records show that we were 70 miles away and there was no way in the world you could’ve taken this photograph from 70 miles.”

Mr Rowe says he and others onboard the ship think they were about 12 to 15 nautical miles east of the blast site. I’ve had a great life. Done lots of things, been lots of places but I always seem to have something wrong with me and it was only on September 19 that I was diagnosed with multiple cancers, terminal cancers. He is one of the 23 known surviving national servicemen from HMAS Murchison.

But like many who were there that day, Mr Rowe now has cancer. “I’ve had a great life. Done lots of things, been lots of places but I always seem to have something wrong with me and it was only on September 19 that I was diagnosed with multiple cancers, terminal cancers,” he said.

Fellow crew member Ken Palmer was not well enough to attend the lunch but his wife Robyn came in his place.

“He has secondaries from thyroid cancer as a result of the blast. They were exposed to the radiation, but he’s doing well, yes, he’s doing well,” she said….. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-03/atom-bomb-veterans-remember-blast-that-changed-lives/4294276

October 4, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, health, weapons and war