Health and wellbeing

British Nuclear Test Veterans: The complexities of identity, health and wellbeing, and the ageing process

What was the aim of this research?

The overall purpose of this research was to explore the life histories, lived experiences, and lifelong impact of being a British Nuclear Test Veteran from the perspectives of the BNTVs themselves. The study focused on three objectives:

1.To understand the complexities of BNTV identity within their community.

2.To critically explore health and wellbeing issues in this population.

3. To identify and analyse the types of leisure activities that enhance wellbeing and the reasons for engagement within this unique ageing population

Why is this important?

Between 1952 and 1964, the British government conducted a series of nuclear tests in Australia and the Pacific, establishing the UK as the third nuclear power after the US and USSR. Locations included the Montebello Islands, Emu Field, Maralinga, and Christmas Island. While these tests advanced the UK’s nuclear capabilities, they had significant human and environmental impacts. Aboriginal communities were displaced and at increased risk of exposure to radiation, and British and Australian military personnel—later termed British Nuclear Test Veterans (BNTVs)—were also potentially affected.

BNTVs represent a marginalised group for two key reasons:

1.Their age places them among the “oldest old” (85+ years).

2.They were legally silenced under the National Secrets Act (now the Official Secrets Act), which prevented them from discussing their involvement for decades.

This study addresses a notable gap in understanding the lived experiences, health, and wellbeing of BNTVs.

How was the study being carried out?

Data were collected through 41 life-history interviews with 29 participants (including veterans, spouses, and widows) conducted in 2018–2019. The first round involved unstructured interviews exploring biographical themes, including military history, nuclear testing experiences, health, family life, and daily routines. The second round used semi-structured interviews tailored to prior responses.

Data were transcribed and analysed using narrative analysis, allowing thematic comparisons while preserving individual stories.

What did the study find?

Identity and Experience

Participants expressed a strong collective identity rooted in the unique experience of witnessing nuclear detonations. A shared narrative included vivid descriptions of the blasts, including the sensation of seeing “bones in their hands” during the flash—interpreted as a meaningful personal truth.

Veterans often expressed conflicting emotions: pride in serving, fascination with the locations, and resentment towards the UK government for the lack of recognition and perceived exploitation. The British Nuclear Test Veterans Association (BNTVA) was identified as a vital source of community, offering emotional support, advocacy, and opportunities for reunion—though some veterans faced barriers to participation due to cost or geography.

Veterans reported health issues commonly associated with ageing (e.g., heart disease, arthritis, deafness). However, several linked conditions like skin and lung cancers, cataracts, migraines, and fertility issues to radiation exposure, despite a lack of medical confirmation. Widows often attributed their husbands’ deaths to the testing programme, which provided psychological comfort and a framework for meaning-making.

A prevalent “stiff upper lip” mentality was observed, with many BNTVs reluctant to seek medical help or discuss health issues. This extended to family interactions, where participants often hid their struggles to avoid being a burden.

Loneliness and Isolation

Loneliness—especially existential loneliness—emerged as a significant concern. Many veterans felt misunderstood or forgotten by the broader public, who lacked awareness of the nuclear tests. Factors contributing to isolation included rural living, limited mobility, loss of partners, and reduced family contact.

Leisure and Community Activities

Despite ageing and health challenges, BNTVs engaged in various leisure activities that promoted wellbeing. These included:

Physical activity: walking, gardening, yoga, and dance helped with physical and mental health.
Nature engagement: green spaces were valued for their therapeutic and social benefits.
Creative and educational pursuits: choir practice, orchestra, life-writing classes, and adult education enriched cognitive engagement and social connection.
Religious participation: for many, faith provided structure, purpose, and community belonging.
Volunteering: community roles, such as assisting in residential homes or organising local clubs, supported identity and reduced feelings of loss in retirement.

Some veterans, due to frailty or disability, engaged in more sedentary leisure (e.g., puzzles, reading, embroidery), which still offered routine, purpose, and mental engagement.

Conclusions

This research reveals the complex interplay between ageing, military identity, and wellbeing among BNTVs. While many continue to live active, socially engaged lives, others struggle with unresolved health concerns, loneliness, and limited access to supportive services.

For some, the BNTV experience is a source of pride and achievement, with individuals being a part of something that others could only imagine – regardless of the risk to potential exposure to radiation. Others experienced health issues commonly associated with the ageing. However, several participants worried about the health consequences of exposure to nuclear testing with some attributing conditions to radiation exposure.

The BNTV experience is framed by personal characteristics of physical and mental health and wellbeing and at the same time is a collective and community experience marked by the wider politics of health, ageing and military identity.

Understanding BNTVs’ lived experiences provides a platform for shaping inclusive public health, social care, and veteran support strategies, particularly for the oldest-old.

Significance and Impact

By documenting their stories, this research helps restore agency and recognition to BNTVs and may inform future support and policy development for similar ageing veteran populations.

Creative Engagement

Three audio dramas based on the findings have been produced and are available at: https://chrc4veterans.uk/knowledge-hub/11656-2/

Researcher Amy Prescott supervised by Professor Louise Mansfield, Dr Alistair John and RDA Dr Rebecca Hings