A veteran of the Christmas Island nuclear weapons tests has been awarded a medal for his military service in the Pacific in the 1960s.
John Johnson, who is 83 and lives at The Manors, our Extra Care scheme in Prudhoe, has been awarded the Nuclear Test Medal after serving during the nuclear testing programme between November 1962 and December 1963.
John, who serves in the Royal Navy and went to Christmas Island at the age of 21, said: “I joined the Royal Navy at 17 but turned out to be the world’s worst sailor, suffering terribly with sea sickness.
“A friend told me about the post. I didn’t know exactly what I would be doing or where I would be going, but I thought it would be a good way to not be at sea for a while, so I applied for the draft and ended up on Christmas Island.”
For eight years, from July 1956 until June 1964, Royal Navy personnel supported tests on Christmas Island with a permanent team ashore. John was part of Naval Party 5555, the parent unit for the Royal Navy’s presence from 1960, and served while the Americans carried out nuclear tests on the island.
It’s been nearly 60 years since John was on Christmas Island but he remembers the multiple bomb tests he witnessed clearly.
“The plane that came over to drop the bombs was like a fly on the ceiling, so tiny because it was so far away. The first drop made the biggest impression on me. That first mushroom cloud I saw I remember being quite scared.
“Even though it was 10-20 miles away the noise was deafening and the flash of light was brighter than the sunshine. You were given eye protection and if you held your hand up to the light you could see your bones through your skin, like an x-ray. The light was that bright.”
“There was always the risk of being over exposed to radiation. If the wind was blowing in the wrong direction for example. Everyone had to wear a radiation badge which would measure the levels and would change colour if it got too high.”
The Nuclear Test Medal was announced by the Prime Minister in November 2022 to recognise the significant contribution of military, civilian and overseas staff and personnel who participated in nuclear testing programmes in the 1950s and 1960s.
The award is the first military medal issued by King Charles.
John received his medal after his daughter applied online to the war office. Potentially thousands of veterans and civilian staff, and next of kin, across the UK and Commonwealth can now apply for the commemorative medal.
John has lived at The Manors with his wife Celia for the past five years, having moved to the scheme from Chopwell where he had lived since 1951.
Samantha Jeavons, Karbon Homes’ Scheme Coordinator at The Manors, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of John and it’s wonderful that he’s been commemorated with this medal for his military service. John and his wife Celia are both keen to get the message out there that these medals are available for people to apply for. Even if the veteran has passed away their family is still entitled to the medal in their memory.”
John added: “I’m very proud to have been there and it’s nice to have something to formally mark my involvement in what happen.”
A veteran of the Christmas Island nuclear weapons tests has been awarded a medal for his military service in the Pacific in the 1960s.
John Johnson, who is 83 and lives at The Manors, our Extra Care scheme in Prudhoe, has been awarded the Nuclear Test Medal after serving during the nuclear testing programme between November 1962 and December 1963.
John, who serves in the Royal Navy and went to Christmas Island at the age of 21, said: “I joined the Royal Navy at 17 but turned out to be the world’s worst sailor, suffering terribly with sea sickness.
“A friend told me about the post. I didn’t know exactly what I would be doing or where I would be going, but I thought it would be a good way to not be at sea for a while, so I applied for the draft and ended up on Christmas Island.”
For eight years, from July 1956 until June 1964, Royal Navy personnel supported tests on Christmas Island with a permanent team ashore. John was part of Naval Party 5555, the parent unit for the Royal Navy’s presence from 1960, and served while the Americans carried out nuclear tests on the island.
It’s been nearly 60 years since John was on Christmas Island but he remembers the multiple bomb tests he witnessed clearly.
“The plane that came over to drop the bombs was like a fly on the ceiling, so tiny because it was so far away. The first drop made the biggest impression on me. That first mushroom cloud I saw I remember being quite scared.
“Even though it was 10-20 miles away the noise was deafening and the flash of light was brighter than the sunshine. You were given eye protection and if you held your hand up to the light you could see your bones through your skin, like an x-ray. The light was that bright.”
“There was always the risk of being over exposed to radiation. If the wind was blowing in the wrong direction for example. Everyone had to wear a radiation badge which would measure the levels and would change colour if it got too high.”
The Nuclear Test Medal was announced by the Prime Minister in November 2022 to recognise the significant contribution of military, civilian and overseas staff and personnel who participated in nuclear testing programmes in the 1950s and 1960s.
The award is the first military medal issued by King Charles.
John received his medal after his daughter applied online to the war office. Potentially thousands of veterans and civilian staff, and next of kin, across the UK and Commonwealth can now apply for the commemorative medal.
John has lived at The Manors with his wife Celia for the past five years, having moved to the scheme from Chopwell where he had lived since 1951.
Samantha Jeavons, Karbon Homes’ Scheme Coordinator at The Manors, said: “We couldn’t be prouder of John and it’s wonderful that he’s been commemorated with this medal for his military service. John and his wife Celia are both keen to get the message out there that these medals are available for people to apply for. Even if the veteran has passed away their family is still entitled to the medal in their memory.”
John added: “I’m very proud to have been there and it’s nice to have something to formally mark my involvement in what happen.”
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