Take Action — Campaign for Recognition

The Situation

In 2023, the Nuclear Test Medal was established to recognise personnel who participated in British nuclear weapons tests. But 543 Squadron personnel were explicitly excluded. The reasoning: they sampled other nations' nuclear tests, not British ones — even though they flew through the same kind of radioactive debris clouds and suffered the same health consequences.

Former Defence Minister Murrison's decision was described as "unnecessarily divisive and dismissive." Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey raised a Parliamentary question on 17 April 2023 challenging the exclusion.

Since then, Defence Secretary Healey has ordered an urgent review of eligibility criteria. This review is our opportunity — but only if the evidence is ready.

"These men flew through nuclear clouds. Their ground crew cleaned the contaminated aircraft that came back. They developed cancers. They died. And then they were told their service didn't count because the nuclear bombs were French instead of British."

What You Can Do

Write to Your MP

A personal letter from a constituent is one of the most effective things you can do. Use the template below — personalise it with your family's story.

Submit Your Evidence

Share your family's health data through the Pattern Tool (coming soon). Anonymous data that builds the picture across all 543 families.

Share Your Story

Add your family's story to this site. Every testimony strengthens the case. Every name remembered is a name that can't be forgotten.

Support the NFLA

The Nuclear Free Local Authorities are actively campaigning for 543 Squadron inclusion. Their advocacy to the Veterans' Minister carries weight.

Template Letter to Your MP

Copy this letter, personalise it with your family's details, and send it to your local Member of Parliament. You can find your MP at members.parliament.uk.

Dear [Your MP's name], I am writing as your constituent to ask for your support in securing Nuclear Test Medal recognition for personnel of No. 543 Squadron RAF. Between 1955 and 1974, 543 Squadron flew Victor bombers through the radioactive debris clouds of 40 nuclear weapons tests — including French tests at Moruroa Atoll and Chinese tests at Lop Nur. Their aircraft were fitted with filter baskets and radiation sensors to collect nuclear samples for analysis at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston. The aircrew flew through the clouds. The ground crew at RAF Wyton cleaned and maintained the contaminated aircraft that returned. Many ground crew personnel were repeatedly exposed to radioactive contamination without adequate protection or information about the radiation levels they were working with. [Personal paragraph — e.g. "My father served on 543 Squadron as a Senior Aircraftsman specialising in radio communications. He was ground crew. He is now one of the last survivors of the squadron, with masses on his bladder, lung, and ribs. His cancer markers went from 5 to 95."] [Optional family impact — e.g. "My mother had multiple miscarriages before I was born. Other 543 families report the same pattern. I had all my teeth removed and replaced with implants. These health patterns have never been systematically documented."] In 2023, 543 Squadron personnel were explicitly excluded from the Nuclear Test Medal because they sampled foreign nuclear tests rather than British ones. This distinction is meaningless to the men who flew through the clouds and the ground crew who cleaned the fallout from the aircraft. The radiation was the same. The health consequences were the same. Defence Secretary John Healey has ordered an urgent review of medal eligibility criteria. I ask you to: 1. Write to the Veterans' Minister (Louise Sandher-Jones MP) supporting the inclusion of 543 Squadron personnel in the Nuclear Test Medal eligibility criteria 2. Raise this issue in Parliament if the opportunity arises 3. Support the NFLA campaign for recognition of all nuclear test veterans The surviving 543 Squadron personnel are elderly. Time is running out. These men served their country in classified operations that damaged their health and their families. They deserve recognition before it's too late. Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Your address]

War Pension Information

If your family member served on 543 Squadron and has developed health conditions that may be related to radiation exposure, they may be eligible for a War Pension.

What You Need to Know

War Pensions are administered by Veterans UK
Claims can be made for conditions caused or made worse by military service
The burden of proof is on the claimant — evidence of service and medical records is needed
Some 543 Squadron personnel have successfully claimed; many have not applied or were denied
Widows and dependants may also be eligible

Key evidence: Service records showing assignment to 543 Squadron, dates of service, any records of participation in specific operations, and medical evidence linking conditions to radiation exposure.

National Archives reference AIR 27/3202 contains the 543 Squadron Operations Record Book, which may help establish participation in specific operations.

Key Contacts & Resources

Veterans' Minister

Louise Sandher-Jones MP

Write via your own MP or directly to the Ministry of Defence.

NFLA

Nuclear Free Local Authorities

Secretary: Richard Outram. Active campaigners for 543 Squadron recognition.

Find Your MP

members.parliament.uk

Search by your postcode to find your local Member of Parliament.

Veterans UK

For War Pension enquiries and veterans' support services.

National Archives

AIR 27/3202

543 Squadron Operations Record Book. May help establish dates and operations.

Labrats International

543recognition

Detailed operations research by Barry Fagg, former 543 ground crew.