OP GRAPPLE – The Roy Sefton’s Story

Today’s 60 at 60 is from Mr Roy Sefton

HMNZS PUKAKI, OPERATION GRAPPLE, and I.

I joined the Royal New Zealand Navy at age 16 as a junior Telegraphist, (Radio Operator). My first ship was the ex Royal Navy WWII Loch class frigate, HMNZS Pukaki. I boarded her with hopes of trips to the Far East and the exotic ports such as Singapore and Hong Kong and enjoying runs ashore similar to those described by the “old Salts” around the rum table. My time on Pukaki started with exercising with ships from the ANZUS alliance in the stormy Tasman Sea, visits to some Australian Ports and escorting HMNZS Endeavour, with Sir Edmund Hillary onboard, to the Antarctica ice pack. Hillary went on to successfully reach the South Pole travelling by tractor. There was then a lull in further activity and Pukaki sat alongside at the naval base HMNZS Philomel. However, what we in the Communications Branch knew, and the crew didn’t, was that Pukaki, and her sister ship HMNZS Rotoiti, were to be part of the British mid- Pacific hydrogen bomb testing programme known as Operation Grapple. The New Zealand ships had been selected by the British because their radar was excellent in tracking weather balloons. Our duties would be the all important weather reporting, submarine detection, air-sea rescue, patrolling for, and escorting intruders out of the 37,000 square mile “ Danger-Exclusion Zone,” and monitoring and retrieving radiation monitoring equipment at the nuclear detonations.

On 14th March 1957, HMNZS’s Pukaki and Rotoiti, each with a crew of 130, secretly slipped out of harbour and our mission was then advised to the crew. Our destination was Christmas Island just north of the equator. There, the British had developed a huge base complete with an air-field and safe anchorage at the ‘Port of London’ for ships. The island was populated with a mass of British servicemen from the three services. Overall the task force was considered the largest since World War II. The New Zealand ships were to call at Suva, Fiji, and take on Fijian personnel who later would be posted to various British ships. It was considered that the testing programme would be short. The hydrogen bombs would be detonated at Malden Island 400 miles south of Christmas Island.

Immediately we left Auckland, Nuclear exercises began. It was clear that the majority of the crew were to be on deck at the detonations. “Blast Stations” on the upper deck were appointed. In the advent of detecting radiation, the crew did a speedy retreat to their appointed ‘shelter stations’ in compartments deep within the ships. There were monitoring duties using radio active pellets. Setting up hoses to wash down the ship of any residual radiation, and a mass of other procedures. These drills were carried out several times a day, under a stop watch to obtain the greatest speed and efficiency. The crew were dressed in so called protective clothing. In the main linen Action Working Dress with respirators, with dark goggles supplied. Good protection against flashes from gun fire and gas, but very little against ionising radiation. No skin was to be exposed. As we travelled into the tropics it was evident that being fully clothed for ever extending periods at shelter stations, with the ships ventilation system closed down, the heat was unbearable. Sweat oozed out of boots. Respirators had to be taken off to pour the sweat out and breath. Some were reported being close to passing out. One sailor was flown home. He kept fainting with the heat.

Christmas Island sat mid-Pacific just north of the equator. It baked in the oppressive heat. Despite the great armada of warships and their supply vessels, aircraft and a mass of British servicemen, it seemed a soul-less place. Some Brits, mainly national servicemen, said it was a Pacific paradise without the Hula Girls and they were happy to see out their service there. The New Zealand sailors were all professional navalmen. Whilst they clearly preferred to be somewhere else, it was considered that the testing programme would be short and dutiful, we would be back to NZ soon, and then onto the Far East Station.

Full scale exercises involving the whole task force intensified in preparation for the first hydrogen bomb test. In between exercises, Pukaki and Rotoiti constantly patrolled frequently releasing weather balloons that repeated wind and other data in the upper atmosphere. During these releases the ships were dead in the water. With no breeze being generated over a moving ship, life on the upper deck gave no respite from the tropical heat. The iron construction of the ships heated up and radiated heat. With no air conditioning life on the mess decks became oven like, was all but impossible. An evening beer ration to those of age, and an occasional film on the quarter deck was looked forward to by all of the crew, even if it had been viewed three times before. The helicopter exchanging mail from and to home was the most awaited event. Eventually, when the operational procedures had been practiced to a state of excellence, and wind and other weather conditions were acceptable, a date was set for the first hydrogen bomb test, (H Hour) 1010, the 15th May 1957.

Prior to joining the navy I had read two books on the WWII atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. As a junior radio operator on Pukaki I read the Reuters news broadcasts to improve my reading speed of morse code. Many of the items I copied reported international protests against the forthcoming British nuclear weapons test. I, unlike some of my peers, had knowledge that ionising radiation was dangerous, especially in the long term.

On the 15th May at 0630, hands on the RNZN frigates were called to breakfast. There then followed urgent activity that had the ships ventilation systems closed down, hoses rigged for washing off radiation, monitoring equipment rigged, and the ships in the highest damage control state. At 0930, literally a handful of men ran the ship. They manned the engine room, radio office, and Combat Information Plot. All other hands had their clothing inspected and sat hooded and gloved with goggles at their appointed Burst Stations. Fully clothed with the engines barely turning the ships steel decks become hot to the touch. Sweat congregated beneath the clothing, but it went un-noticed. A silence fell over the ship. Every man was lost in his own thoughts. The realisation that all the practices, safety precautions, the instructional films and other activities, was now being put to the test, Indeed there was a sinister air about the day. No-one knew what will happen.

Shortly after 1000 the voice of the pilot of the aircraft carrying the bomb broke the silence through the ships speaker system. He was advising of his approach. Instructions from the ship’s bridge followed. ”Sit down, Put your backs to the bomb, close your eyes and cover them with your hands.” Then a short period of silence. Again the bomber pilots voice. ”Bomb gone 9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2”..A brilliant white flash that penetrated through the hands, goggles and closed eyes exposing for a split second the bone structures within. A rumbling like stampeding cattle in an old western movie, over rode any local noise. An outburst of pure naval language ran the length of the ship. Then orders from the bridge to stand up and face the burst. The crews turned to see a fire ball of red and greys twisting upwards. Its scale in real life cannot be replicated in photographs. Suddenly the blast wave hit the ship, listing her slightly to starboard, pushing against the body, and causing pressure in the ears. At this time I looked about me trying to identify the unidentifiable, ionising radiation. We watched until the mushroom cloud was formed. The bridge then ordered those on watch to resume their duties while the remainder of the crew stayed fully clothed but with hoods off, on deck. ‘Oggies’ (pies) would be available on deck for lunch. Pukaki slowly turned her bow towards the mushroom cloud at Ground Zero. Pukaki would proceed to within 14 miles of GZ and transfer monitoring equipment to the flag ship, HMS Warrior that waited on the other side. (It should be noted that during weather patrolling, and other duties, both RNZN Ships were not monitoring their environment for radiation). A Petty Officer was handy with a camera. He had permission to photograph the proceedings of that day. One photograph taken 15 minutes before the detonation captured the communications branch members at their blast station on Pukaki’s quarter deck. I happened to look up at him as he pressed the shutter. The young sailor on my right died of prolonged cancer in his early 40’s. The sailor on my left died of cancer shortly after his 50th birthday. Many others, their identity hidden by hoods and goggles, suffered similar deaths or serious health and family problems.

Grapple 1 was completed. Further detonations were to follow. The various branches on the NZ ships formed relationships with fellow branches on some of the British Royal Navy ships. Pukaki’s communications branch exchanged visits with HMS Warriors communication branch. Much goodwill, especially by way of English ale was exchanged. On one occasion Pukaki’s communicators visited the Communicators on Warrior. At the end of a boisterous evening a group of intoxicated RNZN sailors gathered to be taken back to Pukaki. The senior NZ hand counted the group, one was missing. The evening quiet of Warriors crew was disrupted as a full scale search was made for a NZ sailor lost somewhere in the vast corridors of the aircraft carrier. Eventually the Officer of the Day made a personal count of the NZ group. They were all there. The NZ group leader had forgotten to count himself!

The exercises and patrolling continued with relentless intensity. Grapple 2 was detonated 16 days after Grapple 1. At a senior officers meeting on Christmas Island, Pukaki’s Captain, Cmdr Richard T Hale Approached the Task Force Commander. He advised that the New Zealand crews were exhausted through continuous sea time and the intense demands of their duties, he asked that both NZ ships be released for a break at Papeete, Tahiti. Despite strong reluctance, in true Kiwi spirit Hale pressed his request until it was finally granted. Both ships crews had a visit to Tahiti that remained a Naval legend for sometime.

In the early hours of the morning of the 19th June 1957, the eve of Grapple 3, Pukaki detected a likely submarine, probably Russian or American. Aircraft were dispatched to aid in the search.
As Pukaki had soon to be on station for Grapple 3 the search was eventually abandoned.

Shortly after Grapple 3, Pukaki returned to New Zealand. All thought the testing programme was behind us. I in particular hopefully awaited service on the Far East Station. But no such luck. Both Rotoiti and Pukaki were ordered to return to Christmas Island for further nuclear tests to be detonated off the coast of Christmas Island. After a voyage filled with the familiar exercises, we rejoined a greatly depleted Operation Grapple Task Force. There was a change in our procedures. The RNZN ships were progressively placed closer to the detonations and protective clothing was done away with. We watched the remaining detonations dressed in shorts and sandals. Grapple X was detonated on the 8th of November 1957. At some point the RAF flew some of us over either Malden Island or part of Christmas Island. I cannot recall which. Below us the sand had been turned to glass by the heat of the explosion. Both ships then returned to New Zealand. HMNZS Rotoiti was sent to serve on the Far East station. HMNZS Pukaki steamed back to Christmas Island to continue its duties at Grapple Y on 28th April 1958. On completion, Pukaki returned to Auckland and the majority of the crew, including myself, their sea-time done, were drafted off to serve at shore stations. HMNZS Pukaki with a fresh crew continued to serve at the final 4 Grapple Z detonations.

At Grapple, rain gave cooling relief and men on deck worked through it. The ships could not condense enough fresh water. Tropical rain storms were stalked so the crews could shower, clean teeth and wash clothes in them. Massey University considers that ingestion and inhalation of radioactive contaminates in rain was a prime likely cause of the genetic damage in the veterans DNA.

After Grapple during my late teens I began detecting unusual but mild health conditions. I continued to progress with my Naval career. In 1960-61 I did operational service on HMNZS Rotoiti during the Malayan Communist Emergency. In 1966 -67 I did operational service on the cruiser HMNZS Royalist during the Indonesian Confrontation. My health was declining. At aged 30 and as a Petty Officer I reluctantly left the navy. My health seriously deteriorated in civilian life. I was unable work as an artist (painting), and as a musician. Medically categorised as ‘Severely Functionally Disabled’ I was given a sickness benefit, and Veterans Affairs granted a War Disability Pension but would not identify which Operation caused my disabilities. We have two daughters, but lost three children to miscarriages. I believe my poor health and the loss of our children was due to radiation exposure at Operation Grapple. This appeared to be confirmed by excessive damage in one of my DNA samples in the Massey University double blind controlled study of 50 Operation Grapple veterans and their controls. The research found excessive genetic damage in the veterans that could only be as a result of radiation exposure at Operation Grapple. The study was completed and published in 2007.

Earlier in the 1970’s I considered that radiation was a factor in the deaths and poor health of Grapple veterans. However, Government was not interested. I also received letters from some veterans accusing me of treason. Through the 1980’s the death toll mounted as did ill health and miscarriages and children with deformities. All veterans were convinced Operation Grapple was the prime factor. In 1995 Tere Tahi, myself, and our wives, formed the Steering Committee of the New Zealand Nuclear Test Veterans Association (NZNTVA). The Association was formalised in 1996. We set about a strong campaign to have Government recognise Operation Grapple as war and emergency service, provide pensions to affected veterans and widows, form a presumptive list of health conditions, award a nuclear service medal, genetically research the veterans, and provide other benefits. All of these goals were achieved but we continue to press for further recognition.

Those from Britain and the Commonwealth who served in Australia and Operation Grapple achieved a major western world objective, that of making Britain a world nuclear power. An achievement that in the cold war battles of the time, cannot be overstated. Sadly Commonwealth Governments, guided mainly by Britain, have failed to recognise the deaths and ill health in the veterans and their offspring, which many resulted from test site radiation exposure of the servicemen.

In 2004, after NZNTVA received a Government grant of $100,000. NZNTVA fund raised another $120,000 to contract Massey University to conduct research on a sample of 50 NZ Operation Grapple veterans. Such research would establish once and for all, irradiation or not, of the veterans. In the mFISH Assay the researchers found highly elevated DNA damage on a par with the Chernobyl clean-up workers. In 2008, the renowned Radiation Biologist, Professor David Brenner, Columbia University NY, reviewed the Massey University research for the British High Courts. He described the study as state of the art, and upheld its findings. The NZ research results could be a serious indication that servicemen of other countries were also irradiated.

Despite the new Zealand study findings, the British Government, and those of the Commonwealth countries, ignored the research and the plight of the veterans and their families. Britain initiated the nuclear weapons testing programme and has all of the essential records, but in some cases, even under orders of the courts, Britain will not release some information. British Governments in particular, should hang their heads in deep shame because of the inhumane way they have treated nuclear test veterans and their families. Brunel University London is presently conducting similar research as that conducted at Massey University, on British vets, their partners, and one of their children. Such research is already far too late for many veterans and their families. I fear if, and when it is completed, only a few veterans may be alive to have their concerns upheld. If radiation damage is detected in the British sample groups, then combined with the New Zealand Massey University findings, irradiation of the servicemen cannot be politically denied. Whether the British Government continues to dismiss the science rather than providing relief for surviving veterans and their families, remains to be seen.

551 New Zealand Naval men served at Operation Grapple. Some had served in WWII and/or the Korean War. But the service they condemn the most is Operation Grapple. I have been the Chair of the NZNTVA for 22 years. In that time I have been made aware of, and have responded to the deaths of about 421 veterans, many in the most saddest of circumstances. Despite our determined battles and successes with our NZ Government, we still fight on for full and due recognition. Continued campaigning takes a serious toll on my chronic health. But I hope within my life time I will see the veterans and families of all the countries involved in the British Nuclear Weapons Tests obtain due recognition and assistance.

Veterans relating seeing the bones of their hands at detonations will not prove causation of radiation exposure. Neither will self reporting health problems. Scientific research, or convincing Governments with well researched information can only do that. I ask veterans and families, irrespective of their country, to fully support their nuclear test associations and urge them to combine with other associations, and present an international front to jointly seek appropriate redress from their Governments.

Roy Sefton QSM
HMNZS Pukaki, 1957/58. Grapple 1,2,3,4,5.