Benfleet Man Witness to Atomic Bomb Tests
On Christmas Island 1958 - 1959
'Sunday Mirror' March 2008 newspaper cutting.
Mirror Newspaper
The Duke of Edinburgh at the Sergeant's Mess, but note no drinks on the table.
Ernie Rogers
The Duke of Edinburgh was given a reception by the local tribes people who had been brought in to work the plantations from the Gilbert Islands, as serving soldiers we were not invited.
Ernie Rogers
The Duke of Edinburgh
Ernie Rogers
Part of the reception put on by the Gilbertess natives.
Ernie Rogers
The Duke of Edinburgh at the Sergeant's Mess
Ernie Rogers
The Royal Yacht 'Britannia'
Ernie Rogers
Ken Mead (the taller man) and Ernie Rogers with the army truck they took on leave to escape the army when on leave.
Ernie Rogers
Ernie Rogers and his mates, from the right Wesley Pile, Ernie Rogers, Johnny Foster, Ted Heath. Front row Jock McClocklin
Ernie Rogers
Postcard from Christmas Island 1958 -59
Ernie Rogers
Rear of postcard
Ernie Rogers
The land crabs that were the size of dinner plates and they would run around under the men's beds at night time.
Ernie Rogers
Ernie Rogers joined the regular Army in 1957 and joined the ranks of the Royal Engineers. In 1958 -1959 he along with many other soldiers witnessed three atomic bomb tests on Christmas Island, many of these men have suffered ill health as a result of these tests.
When on leave they were allowed to take a flight over to Hawaii but most of the men didn’t have the money for that, so Ernie and his mate Ken Pile would take an army truck and live ‘wild’ for a couple of weeks away from the army camp.
The Duke of Edinburgh came to visit Christmas Island.
More pages from Ernie Rogers
Teddy boys hangout at Mendozer’s
Atomic bomb tests on Christmas Island 1958.
Description of the tests, the visit of the Duke of Edinburgh, description of the atomic bomb cloud, clearing up the dead fish and birds after a test, the land crabs that were a pest
Leave on Christmas Island
Taking an army truck to have a few days away from the army.
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I also was on Christmas Island in 1958 and witnessed the nuclear tests, Two A Bombs and Three H Bombs in the Army with 94 Coy R.A.S.C. I was a B3 Specialist from 19 Coy Tank TK/TPTR and staff car driver to our commanding C/O. Also drove the scammers with a low loader trailer and ten ton trucks, left the island in Feb 1959. After leaving I suffered with two large tumours to my right hand chest wall, chronic heart disease for which I underwent several operations. I put them down to my service on Christmas Island, having been exposed to ionised radiation and used for experiments unknown to us at the time and without any protection whatsoever.
I, Corporal David Ward, was on Christmas Island 1958 to 1959 operating the largest crane the British Army had at the time which was a 38RB. The crane was on the docks unloading landing craft that were bringing in supplies from Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships, with the help of the Gilbertese natives. We also dredged the approach channel into the docks for the landing craft.
I worked with the head Gilbertese native whose name was “April”. Does anybody out there remember April? I would love to hear from anyone out there that served with me or on the island.
I am now in the Los Angeles, CaliforniaUSA area and am enjoying relatively good health.
My email is: djventures27@yahoo.com
My phone number is 661 666-1968 in the (Los Angeles, California area, USA)
Did anyone know my dad Gerald Morris?
I liked your Benfleet website.
I was delighted to see the photos of the Duke of Edinburgh visit to Christmas Island 1959 by Ernie Rogers. I was at the native reception but I was recording the speeches by the Duke for the Christmas Island Broadcasting Service. I later showed the Duke around the Studios (as a lowly Junior Technician RAF).
Unfortunately my copy of the recordings got lost on one of my later postings.
My regards to Ernie – I hope he is well.
My thanks to Margaret March for adding the photos – well done Margaret – I live in Scotland.
Hi, did any one know my grandad John Walmsley?
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