Maralinga : the chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country / by Frank Walker.

In the 1950s and 60s, the British government, working with the Australian government, conducted nuclear tests at Monte Bello Island, Emu Field and Maralinga in central Australia. This is the shocking story of how some 8,000 servicemen were used as guinea pigs. Airmen were ordered to fly into the ballooning mushroom clouds minutes after the nuclear bombs exploded. Sailors were ordered to stand on their ships to watch the explosions and later felt the radioactive dust land on their bare skin. Soldiers were ordered to drive into the heart of the blast zone as soon as it had cooled down enough to collect instruments recording the radiation. All by order of their own government. These servicemen stood in shorts and shirts as British and Australian scientists encased in full radioactive suits checked them for radiation exposure. Scientists aware of the dangers showered and scrubbed after each exposure, while the military personnel were not even told of the health dangers they faced. With exclusive access to hundreds of nuclear veterans, journalist Frank Walker reveals never-before published testimony about what really happened at these now notorious nuclear test sites - and why it still matters. From the government of Sir Robert Menzies onwards, these men have been betrayed. The only job of these nuclear veterans was to serve their country. Our veterans followed orders, walked into British nuclear bomb clouds and emerged to find that despite this toxic exposure, they don't have the same rights as other veterans. Why? Because they didn't serve in wartime and didn't serve overseas. Because the damage was done at home. MARALINGA is the chilling story of our secret nuclear shame. It is a story that MUST be told so nothing like it can ever be repeated.