British Cold War nuclear test veterans claim MOD is hiding some of their medical records
It’s been more than six decades since John Morris served on Christmas Island in the South Pacific where the British government tested nuclear weapons.
The 86-year-old has seen other members of his unit die since then, due to various conditions, including blood disorders and cancers. Some lost children or had children born with defects.
He has also had cancer and was diagnosed with pernicious anaemia in his twenties. After Christmas Island, Mr Morris went on to have children, but his son died when he was only four months old, it’s thought his lungs didn’t develop properly.
“The flashbacks I get sometimes are horrific of picking my child up out of his cot. They are unbelievably live in my head.”
Mr Morris has always felt guilty, he believes his son’s death was a result of a genetic defect caused by nuclear radiation that he was exposed to.
“I was there for [the testing of] four atomic bombs. The nearest was 20 miles away. And I had a pair of shorts, a shirt on and sunglasses. It was like sitting in the centre of the sun.”
Mr Morris has spent decades campaigning for recognition of the sacrifices that he, and other men, made for Britain’s efforts to secure nuclear weapons.
John Morris witnessed nuclear tests on Christmas Island
Medical records ‘missing in certain items’
More than 20,000 British servicemen took part in hundreds of Cold War weapons tests in Australia and the South Pacific. None of them have ever received compensation for the illnesses they believe were caused by radiation.
Now he wants to expose the truth about the physical toll he believes their service has taken.
“I have been requesting for many, many years my medical records and I have received them, but they appear to be changed or they appear to be somewhat missing in certain items,” said Mr Morris.
“I know for a fact that I had urine and blood samples taken and they were not recorded. But the MOD [Ministry of Defence] suggests they were never taken. Now I can almost give them the dates that my blood was taken because I was in an isolation hospital.”
Read more: Thousands who took part in UK’s nuclear test programme to receive medal
Cold War nuclear tests made it rain more in the UK
Mr Morris and other veterans are suing the government in order to provide their complete medical files. Oli Troen, one of the lawyers working with them, says when veterans have requested medical information it has often come back as missing or incomplete.
“We’ve uncovered over 200 archive documents which clearly show that the veterans were required to be tested for both blood and urine samples, both before they went out to the South Pacific to engage in the nuclear testing, whilst they were there and when they came back… if those tests were done where are they now?” said Mr Troen.
“It’s not simply enough for the MOD to say ‘sorry we don’t have these records’. We need to know why they don’t have them, where they are and who lost them.”
‘What are they hiding?‘
Steve Purse’s father David served at Maralinga, Australia where tests were carried out
Steve Purse’s father David ran an airfield in Maralinga, Australia where nuclear weapons tests were carried out. Mr Purse, 49, was born with a series of disabilities and uses a wheelchair because he has stunted limbs. He believes his father’s exposure to radiation caused his conditions.
“I had an email just this week from the RAF [Royal Air Force] saying yes the MOD search has found the information you require but no you can’t have it, and they’re quoting some law about confidentiality… What are they hiding?
“It’s as if they know that what dad was exposed to probably caused my condition and they just don’t want me to have it,” he said.
“I always said that I would never have children. I didn’t want to pass this on. And then I got married and we had a little boy. He’s lovely. But he has a condition in his teeth and a lot of descendants [of nuclear veterans] report teeth problems.
“So my fear is that yes I’ve passed something onto him. Did I play genetic Russian roulette with his life?”
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence 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.
“It remains the case that no information is withheld from veterans and any medical records taken either before, during or after participation in the UK nuclear weapon tests are held in individual military medical records in the government’s archives, which can be accessed on request.”
UK
Reward of £20,000 offered to identify parents of three siblings abandoned as babies over eight years
A £20,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to the identification of the parents of three siblings found abandoned in London over eight years.
The Metropolitan Police said that despite more than 450 hours of CCTV being reviewed, the parents of the three children, known as Elsa, Roman and Harry, remain unidentified.
However, it is believed their mother has lived in an area of east London “over the past six years”.
Elsa was believed to be less than an hour old when she was found by a dog walker on 18 January last year, in East Ham, east London.
In the months that followed it was found that she had two siblings who were also abandoned in similar circumstances, in the same area of London, in 2017 and 2019.
On Saturday, police said the independent group Crimestoppers had offered a £20,000 reward for information passed to the charity, which will expire on 18 April.
Detective Inspector Jamie Humm, of the Met’s child abuse investigation team, said: “We have carried out extensive inquiries over the past year to try and locate Elsa’s parents.
Baby Roman. Pic: Met Police/PA
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“This has involved reviewing over 450 hours of CCTV and completing a full DNA structure of the mother.
“We have serious concerns for the wellbeing of the parents, especially the mother, and are continuing to work closely with Newham Council and appeal for the public’s help for information.
“I believe that someone in the area will have been aware of the mother’s pregnancies and that within the community there may be (or) have been concerns for this mother’s welfare.
“Thanks to the DNA work of forensic colleagues, police will be able to eliminate any unconnected person quickly and easily, as such I would ask you to contact police with confidence.”
The baby was found at the junction of Greenway and High Street South in Newham. Pic: PA
Elsa was found wrapped in a towel in a reusable shopping bag, of which police have also released a new image, and was kept warm by the dog walker. She was uninjured.
Police said at the time that it was “highly likely” that she was born after a “concealed pregnancy”.
The Boots bag in which Baby Elsa was found abandoned by a dog walker in Newham on 18 January 2024. Pic: Met Police/PA
The BBC reported that at an initial court hearing, East London Family Court was told it took doctors three hours to record Elsa’s temperature because of the cold, and the Met Office said that temperatures dropped to as low as -4C on the night she was found.
Hospital staff named her Elsa in a reference to the character from the film Frozen.
The police investigation into the identity of the children’s parents continues, and anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or post @MetCC ref Operation Wolcott.
People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously at any time on 0800 555 111 or via Crimestoppers-uk.org.
Fresh appeals have been made for information on what would have been the 20th birthday of Ellis Cox, who was shot dead in Liverpool last June.
A number of people have been arrested in connection with the murder at Liver Industrial Estate, but no one has been charged yet.
The 19-year-old’s family and police have paid tribute to him and called for those with information to come forward.
He was shot in the back after a confrontation between his friends and another group of up to three males on Sunday 23 June.
Ellis Cox who was shot dead in June 2024. Pic: Merseyside Police
His mother Carolyn paid tribute in an appeal to coincide with what would have been his 20th birthday.
“He was so kind… so laid back, so calm, so mature for his age. And he was just funny. Very funny.
“He was my baby… no mum should have to bury a child. He was my life. And I don’t know what to do without him.”
Mum Carolyn Cox (left) and aunt Julie O’Toole (right) are looking for answers
Ellis’ mum described him as ‘kind” and “funny. Pic: Merseyside Police
Meanwhile, his aunt Julie O’Toole said he was “the sort of person I think you’d be hard pressed to find anyone to say anything negative about. He was loyal, fiercely loyal… everything was about his family”.
To pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange on Saturday.
DCI Steve McGrath does not believe Ellis was involved in criminality
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the senior investigating officer, spoke about the information gathered so far, six months on from Mr Cox’s murder.
“I’m satisfied that the group that he was with was probably the target… and I would say that’s got something in relation to do with localised drug dealing in that area. But Ellis had no involvement in that whatsoever,” he said.
He added that police are looking for “really significant pieces of evidence now”, including “trying to recover the firearm that was used in relation to this, looking to recover the bikes that were used by the offenders”.
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Mrs Cox also appealed for people to come forward with information.
“If you know anything, don’t let us get to [his] next birthday and still know nothing.
“We need to get justice for Ellis. And we need to get the people who took him from us off the streets.”
Former Manchester United and Scotland footballer Denis Law has died, at the age of 84.
In a statement, his family said: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle, but finally, he is now at peace.
“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently.
“We know how much people supported and loved him and that love was always appreciated and made the difference.”
Denis Law in 2005. Pic: PA
The Aberdeen-born footballer previously announced in August 2021 that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
A prolific striker, Law scored 237 goals in 404 appearances for Manchester United, for whom he signed for a then-British record transfer fee in 1962.
He is the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford – one on the Stretford End concourse, the other as part of the United Trinity statue overlooking the stadium’s forecourt beside fellow great George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton.
Denis Law, third from left, as a statue featuring him alongside Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best – known as the ‘holy trinity’ – was unveiled in 2008. Pic: AP
The only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or award, in 1964, he was also part of United’s triumphant campaign in the 1968 European Cup – in which they became the first English club to ever win the competition.
In a statement, the club said: “Everyone at Manchester United is mourning the loss of Denis Law, the King of the Stretford End, who has passed away, aged 84.
“He will always be celebrated as one of the club’s greatest and most beloved players.
Denis Law, centre, during Manchester United’s triumphant European Cup campaign in 1968. Pic: AP
“The ultimate goalscorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation. Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’s family and many friends. His memory will live on forever more.”
Wayne Rooney, former United captain and the club’s all-time record goalscorer, described Law as a “legend”.
“Thoughts with all Denis’s family and friends,” he said in an online post.
Another former United captain, Gary Neville, said: “A great footballer and a great man. It’s a privilege and an honour to have spent time in your company. The King of the Stretford End.”
A tribute from the Scotland national team said Law was “a true great”.
“We will not see his likes again,” it said.
Law also played for Huddersfield Town, Manchester City, and Italian club Torino during his club career, and made 55 appearances for Scotland, scoring 30 goals for his country.
Manchester City said in a post on X: “The whole of Manchester, including everyone at City, is mourning with you. Rest in peace, Denis.”
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