Page 13 - IB April 2018

Nuclear Testing

deposited locally by heavy rain, the pos-
sibility of a very hazardous contamination
level cannot be excluded. It must be a
firm requirement that no rain shall fall on
Christmas Island until the activity up to
rain level has drifted clear of the island, for
example, say 1–3 hours after the explosion
unless the winds are light.”
There is extensive evidence that au-
thorities knew of the possibility of rain
for Grapple Y. Several days before the
detonation, the Commander of the Port
Camp warned of a slight risk of rain on
28 April. On the day of the test, Group
Captain Hubbard noted that: “Squadron
Leader Bob Bates and crew, flying Valiant
XD825, although scheduled for take-off at
0800 hours local, were delayed due to an
unacceptable degree of cloud cover on the
day – not unexpected as the previous two
days had produced heavy showers from
the intertropical front.”
that size. It was truly awesome; a great decks to witness the rising mushroom Mrs Kiritome’s testimony of black mist
rolling, roiling, boiling mass of fire.” cloud, the 24-year-old woman and her is corroborated by other sources. Leading
In an interview translated by her daugh- husband were invited to come on deck: Aircraftman Robert Brown belonged to a
ter Rakieti, Suitupe Kiritome described “Just after the blast, the captain came to Royal Air Force (RAF) unit responsible
the movements of Gilbertese islanders my husband and invited us to accompany for fire protection at the Atomic Weapons
on the day: “Just before the test, we were him to the deck to see what happened after Research Establishment installations on
informed of the arrangements. We were the blast. We went up on deck and we Christmas Island. He reported that 10
told that the test would take place early in saw everyone on deck wearing protective minutes after the detonation, he saw the
the morning around 5 or 6am, and that we clothes, covering their head, faces and sky over the Main Camp and the airfield
should be ready at the wharf for evacua- bodies. Some of them were studying the was dark and overcast. About 20 minutes
tion from the island. We were transported effects of the bomb with binoculars. We after the detonation, members of the RAF
to the ships on landing craft. My husband, didn’t wear protective clothing—we went unit could see rain falling over both the
Kiritome, was the interpreter for the Brit- on deck wearing our normal clothes. camp and the airfield, with the RAF officer
ish officers. He assisted them during the “We were watching the black smoke or in charge stating: “The poor chaps over
evacuation of the island by ensuring that cloud from the blast which was drifting there are catching it.”
people take their allocated transport. towards us. When it came overhead, I felt Returning to base 30 minutes after the
“Evacuation of Kiritimati began about something like a light shower falling on detonation, Brown noticed a thin layer
3 am when the roll call was taken. People me. I thought it was rain. My husband of black misty cloud at about 1,500 feet
were grouped on the basis of their home stood under a lifeboat so he was protected over Port London – where the Gilbertese
islands and a representative from each from the light shower …. It was just like workers lived.
island group was responsible for ensur- rain. I felt wetness on my head, my face As she stood on the deck of the British
ing that people from his island were all and skin. warship for Grapple Y, Sui Kiritome was six
accounted for. We were told that no one “When we got home later that day, we months pregnant with her second child.
should remain on the island. People made noticed that the door and glass windows For Mrs. Kiritome, the aftermath of her
their way to the landing craft as their name in our house were broken. The concrete exposure was not immediately apparent,
was called. We were told before leaving our wall cracked, and our pet frigate bird was but she soon noticed effects: “Sometime
houses that we should take down things running around the house blind.” after the test, something happened to my
hanging on the walls, as well as ensuring Given the yield of the test – the largest head and face. Every time when I combed
that our pets and animals are kept away in the Grapple series – there should have my hair, I was losing strands of my hair
from the light. been little surprise that radioactive fallout and something like burns developed on
“When we arrived on the ship, my could reach the British naval task force, my face, scalp and parts of my shoulder.
husband was told to explain to the local the military camp on Christmas Island and My face was the worst affected because I
people what was expected of them, and Port London village. was looking up at the black cloud from the
later, the progress of the test. A movie was In preparations for fallout issued for the blast which was directly above us when
shown, and sweets were shared around. Grapple X test the previous November, the light shower fell on my face.”
When the countdown to the blast began, Task Force Commander Wilfred Oulton r nicmaclellan@optusnet.com
my husband told the people to put their had acknowledged that “there is a pos-
hands to their ears to muffle the sound sibility of washout on Christmas Island “Grappling with the Bomb” is avail-
of the blast.” itself…If active material were allowed able for free download from the web-
With UK naval personnel lining the to drift over Christmas Island and were site of publisher ANU Press.

Islands Business, April 2018 13