A-Bomb veteran's fight for compensation

Malcolm Pike joined the forces as a boy at 15. Several years later he found himself at Christmas Island watching the now infamous Atom bomb tests.

The spectacular view may have drastically altered the future lives of Malcolm and the rest of his colleagues.

Malcolm, of Grange Court Drive, currently suffers from skin cancer, lesions on his lungs and eczema. Many of his shipmates have died.

Back in July 1957 military personnel watched the result of 'Operation Grapple ' from the deck of HMS Warrior and other warships. They had just an anti-flash hood and gloves for protection.

With a great many survivors still believing their health to be adversely effected by watching the tests, Malcolm joined the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) - a group dedicated to getting a fair pension for the servicemen and their widows.

Around half of these claimants require legal aid.

The group now claim their case is stalling as the Legal Services Commission, who originally agreed funding for the action, is proving "less than forthcoming".

There are fears funding may be removed and with proceedings due to be served on the MoD on April 22 time is running out.

The BNTVA say: "Should the Legal Services Commission decide to withdraw their funding at this late stage of the litigation this will prevent both sections of the veterans from pursuing any form of justice."

"It's really very disappointing," said 70-year-old Malcolm. "It's just a shame years of hard work could possibly go to waste.

"We have had an ongoing struggle with the various governments and have kept trying the MoD. Maybe they're waiting because our numbers are getting less as we get that much older."

Malcolm says the sailors involved were not informed of the risks by their superiors and did not understand the dangers of the tests.

He said: "We were all round - about our early twenties and were picked because we were fit, but there are many people I know who have died of various forms of cancers.

"The Australian and New Zealand groups have been awarded compensation for this but our lot haven't."

The BNTVA have encouraged all members to write to their MP to ask their assistance in ensuring the "obtaining of justice".

Malcolm was quick to point out that Town MP Gregory Barker has pledged his support to the veterans in his constituency.

He said: "But he's just one MP and I don't know whether other MP's will go along with his line of thought."

Malcolm added: "Obviously the nation wasn't as ashamed as much as we had hoped. If there are any other veterans in the Observer area they can contact the national secretary (of the BNTVA) Mr D Redfern, 32 St Aubyns Crescent, Newquay, Cornwall."

*BNTVA chairman John Lowe offered a glimmer of hope to Malcolm and his fellow campaigners on Wednesday afternoon, with the announcement that the MoD may be prepared to extend the deadline for proceedings.

Speaking from his Cheshire home he warned, "Time could still run - out though".