Explosive new images unearthed of British nuclear bomb testing

Never-before-seen images of nuclear tests undertaken in Australia in the 1950s have been revealed.

They were taken by a Tyneside member of the RAF and amateur photographer John Alfred Milsom.

The striking images have been stored for decades among the possessions of the late Sgt Milsom, who witnessed the moment the bombs were detonated.

The tests were carried out in the 1950s when Britain was trying to match Soviet and US nuclear technology



The nuclear tests were captured by Sgt Milsom in an area of the South Australia desert called Maralinga – which means 'field of thunder' to the Aborigines

Unaware of the dangers of radiation, the men supervising the tests wore nothing more than military fatigues

Discovered by his daughter Janette Hoyles, from Dunston, Gateshead, she said: 'I remember him saying they were told to stand in a circle with their backs to the site of the explosion.

'And then after the siren sounded they could turn around and see this frightening sight of the mushroom cloud.'

The 52-year-old said her father was posted to Australia alongside stints in India, Malaysia and Singapore.

With a keen interest in photography, the nuclear tests were captured by Sgt Milsom in an area of the South Australia desert called Maralinga – which means “field of thunder” to the Aborigines.

Unaware of the dangers of radiation, the men supervising the tests wore nothing more than military fatigues, which for some, soon after lead to heavy nose bleeding and early cancers. For others it took years.

Janette Hoyles holding her father's medals and amateur photographer, the late Sgt Milson (left)



Cancer, skin problems and infertility have all been suffered while some veterans may also have passed on genetic damage to their children.

Thousands are now pressing for compensation from the Ministry of Defence for radiation poisoning, although Jannette says her father, who died of a heart attack at the age of 67, was unaffected.

Janette said: 'He was a smoker but was otherwise in good health. The only thing I remember is towards the end of his life he had a strange sore on the palm of his hand. It looked like something had been constantly rubbing in that area and no matter what antibiotics he took it wouldn’t heal.'

Last year a High Court judgement finally gave 1,000 servicemen the green light to sue the MoD.