Maralinga: The chilling expose of our secret nuclear shame and betrayal of our troops and country

by Frank Walker

'The story reaches out and grabs you by the throat' - Dr Clare Wright, historian and author of The Forgotten Rebels of EurekaThe facts are shocking. The treachery is chilling. The fallout ongoing.This edition contains a new author note with shocking new material that has come to light as a result of the groundbreaking original publication.Investigative journalist Frank Walker's Maralinga is a must-read true story of the abuse of our servicemen, scientists treating the Australian population as lab rats and politicians sacrificing their own people in the pursuit of power.During the Menzies era, with the blessing of the Prime Minister, the British government exploded twelve atomic bombs on Australian soil. RAAF pilots were ordered to fly into nuclear mushroom clouds, soldiers told to walk into radioactive ground zero, sailors retrieved highly contaminated debris - none of them aware of the dangers they faced.But the betrayal didn't end with these servicemen. Secret monitoring stations were set up around the country to measure radiation levels and a clandestine decades-long project stole bones from dead babies to see how much fallout had contaminated their bodies - their grieving parents were never told. This chilling exposé drawn from extensive research and interviews with surviving veterans reveals the betrayal of our troops and our country.'An amazing tale – utterly gripping, it reads like a thriller' - Jon Faine, ABC Radio Melbourne'This book will contribute to a much greater awareness and perhaps much more action on this issue' - Fran Kelly, ABC Radio National'Walker demonstrates powerfully why, regardless of the context in which the testing took place, the emotional legacy of Maralinga will linger in the Australian psyche, just as do Gallipoli, Bodyline and Singapore. The cost in terms of damage to health, the environment and public trust in government will remain with us for generations to come' - The Australian'Shocking revelations…' - Margaret Throsby, Midday Interview, ABC Classic FM'An extraordinary story – there are things here that would make your hair stand on end' - Philip Clark, ABC Radio Canberra'This book should be on the school syllabus' - Andrew O'Keefe, Weekend Sunrise

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Environment, Australia

429 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 26, 2014

About the author

Frank Walker is a veteran journalist. His newspaper roles have included being chief reporter for the SUN-HERALD covering defence, veterans' affairs, national security and terrorism. He's also worked on the Sydney Morning Herald, the National Times, for News Limited in New York, and for Deutsche Welle international radio in Germany.

In 2009, Hachette published his first book, The Tiger Man of Vietnam - the remarkable true story of the secret war of Captain Barry Petersen in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It was a bestseller.

Frank followed this with his bestselling Ghost Platoon in 2012, Maralinga in 2014 and Commandos in 2015. He lives in Sydney with his family.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fuck me…..it’s no wonder we didn’t learn about this at school. The cover up remains pretty covered up. Unlike the nuclear fallout 😬 obviously this is a politically charged read and it’s written very persuasively and emotionally, but it’s difficult to believe that the Australian and UK governments still can’t admit they fucked up. It makes me sad to be a scientist in this country, when this is the shoulders we are standing on.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly-researched and moving account of one of the most unrecognised and horrific parts of Australian history. An important book on an even more important topic, highly recommended reading for all Australians or anyone with an interest in history, nuclear war, or conspiracy.

[Carol Eagle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very readable though hard to stomach revelation of shocking and shameful events in Australian history. A must read.

[Callum's Column · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the 1950s and 1960s, British nuclear bomb tests were conducted in Western Australia and South Australia. Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies allowed the British to conduct these tests with minimal Australian oversight. Australian troops were employed as subjects in a macabre radiation poisoning experiment, with inadequate protective measures compared to their British counterparts. The consequences of these tests were deliberately obscured by both the British and Australian governments. Australian military personnel and their progeny consequently experienced premature deaths or debilitating health issues.

Pathologists covertly provided the bones of affected soldiers' offspring, who had died prematurely due to radiation poisoning, to government scientists--Australian, American and British--for testing nuclear-based metals like strontium in their tissues. This practice was conducted without parental consent and remained concealed for decades. Monetary support for healthcare was also denied, and both the British and Australian governments openly downplayed the repercussions of radiation exposure on these individuals. Despite their ongoing efforts, the few surviving victims continue to face challenges in seeking governmental recognition and support.

Indigenous communities residing near the radiation blast zone suffered devastating consequences. Many died shortly after exposure to radiation, while others faced life-long disabilities. The Australian government mendaciously assured the public that Indigenous people were not affected and had been adequately warned. First, the tests were conducted on Indigenous land without consultation; and second, many Indigenous people had no prior contact with white settlers or spoke English. They thought the fallout 'black mist' was Mamu (malevolent spirits). As noted by Walker, however, the true Mamu were the scientists dressed in laboratory coats and suits.

Menzies founded the Liberal Party in 1944. The Liberals presently oppose an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. They argue that it could influence Australian defence policy. However, history underscores the necessity of a Voice to protect Indigenous interests from defence impacts. They were killed as part of nuclear testing to reinforce Australian security under the British and American nuclear-umbrella during the Cold War. Australia is expanding joint-military operations with America in northern Australia in preparation for potential conflict with China. It is crucial to acknowledge that these military operations are being conducted on Indigenous lands. They ought to have a voice.

This episode raises questions over Australia's sovereignty. Walker argues that Menzies sold out Australia to the British. However, until 1984, Australians were British subjects. We were willing participants in empire and had participated in all major British wars since our Federation. Therefore, Menzies' cooperation with Britain was consistent with centuries of British colonisation in Australia. Walker's claims that Menzies was a traitor to the Australian people may be misplaced. However, Menzies should be condemned for neglecting the welfare of Australian troops and Indigenous people.

Walker tends to overquote and repeat points in this book. Homogenous participant testimony, while significant, made the the book excessively long. Considering they were already aired in a Royal Commission in the 1980s, the author should have edited them more concisely. Additionally, the book lacks sufficient focus on broader historical themes surrounding nuclear testing, such as the Cold War, empire, and other nations concurrently conducting tests--the Soviets, America, and France. Without a solid grounding in Cold War history, readers may be unsure about the reasons for nuclear proliferation and Britain's willingness to obtain the bomb.

[Courtney Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible read. What happened here is so fucked and unbelievable you’d think it was a joke.

[Gayle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first got interested in Maralinga after seeing the film "Ground Zero" starring the delectable Colin Friel and Donald Pleasance. The book is quite repetitious in that so many of the soldiers stories are similar in their illnesses and genetic aberations that have occurred in so many of their children. The arrogance of the British and the 'scientists' so hell bent on their discoveries that putting men in danger was perfectly acceptable. More so because as the years went on, their refusal to accept any blame or accept facts made me so mad. "I say chaps, fly through that atomic cloud would you, we want to see if the plane can handle it" Wash down that plane old boy, no, you don't need any protective clothing" etc etc. The British have spent more money denying there was any radioactive danger then or now than they would have in compensations. Their clean up processes were absolutely laughable, putting a layer of dirt 30cm over a radioactive pit in a windy desert!!! The Aussie govt however were such utter sycophants in their acceptance of everything the British did that they are even more to blame for what has happened at Maralinga and beyond. Now the land has been given back to the Aborigines - some of the areas have a contaminated life of 24,000 years but it's only Aborigines after all! It's all appalling - exactly why it's such a compelling read.

[Steve Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read about a shameful part of Australian history that should never be forgotten and indeed, should be taught in schools. Shameful in that, both British and Australian politicians and scientists used humans as guinea pigs for their atomic experiments. They showed no regard for human safety or the environment.
It proved to me that governments and the media the world over are full of liars and people only interested in themselves, power and money. It shed light on Prime Ministers who I thought were decent people but actually let power and greed go to their heads. These PMs are still viewed by the majority of the public as good guys or larrikins. I'm sure if more people were aware of the the truth then they would change their minds.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sobering. Sad. Frightening. I really had little idea of what went on at Maralinga or how dispassionately we were betrayed by the British and our own government. They don't teach this stuff in school :(

One area that I was disappointed with though is that in Chapter 16 the author lists other experiments conducted on humans during the Cold War - and there is no reference for any of them other than the last one. I was able to find information about some of them online but not all. There should be a reference for each of these, firstly for credibility reasons and secondly to allow readers to look into these incidents further if desired.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had a lot of great information in it. I used it for a History assignment and this was my main source. I had at least one sticky note on every page of this book. It took me a while to read this book because it was non-fiction and I don't make a habit of reading non-fiction books and stories. It certainly shocked me to find out what started in the middle of my country half a century ago and still hasn't finished. The lack of compensation and court cases given to the victims of the nuclear bombs because Britain did not want to admit they were wrong astounded me.

[Luke Rutten · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a extremely compelling read on the ongoing suffering and pain of all who bore witness to these 12 nuclear tests performed by the British. It can be repetitive as the accounts of service men so the same issues faced of health issues with them and their families. It is amazing how the Australian government basically rolled over for the British and allowed them to detonate anything they wanted without question or hinderence.

[Emmylou · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to strike a balance between solid science and a 'good' story, which this book is mostly able to do. The complete disregard for the safety of the people working and living in the area is unbelievable.

I'm surprised that so little was said about the traditional owners though - a couple of mentions in the book, and the epilogue. Why am I surprised though? I mean, that's how we roll in Australia...

[Warren Gossett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This books takes me back to Melbourne 1985 when I attended one of the sessions of the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia. In the chairman's chair was Diamond Jim McClelland. That was only one day in a long investigation. I didn't know much of the full story of the nuclear tests in Australia as developed in this book. It is an ongoing story of how we are struggling to survive the dangers still posed by nuclear weapons.

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant coverage of the events that took place in Australia in the 1950's and 60's regarding nuclear weapons testing and the subsequent cover ups by the Australian and British governments. Some leading over tones but all data and accounts extremely well referenced so bias in commentary is acceptably justified.

[Dave Holbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be read by every Australian.

This is all public information, but you would find it very difficult to source due to thousands of documents and the fact that UK and Australian governments do not want you to know the facts. And the most frightening part of all this are the facts; not speculation or conjecture -facts.

[Sean Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful book about our shameful history that every Australian should read.

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

fuuuuuuuckk

[Les Morton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard reading, disturbing revelations and disheartening behaviour by governments, British and Australian.

[Pamela Humby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Investigative journalist Frank Walker's Maralinga is an absolute must read true story of the abuse of Australian servicemen, the scientists treating Australian population as lad rats and politicians sacrificing their own people in the pursuit of power. With the blessing of Prime Minister Robert Menzies and the fear of Communism of the Cold War era, the British Government exploded 12 atomic bombs on Australian soil. RAAF pilots were ordered to fly into nuclear mushroom clouds, soldiers told to walk into radioactive ground zero, sailor retrieved highly contaminated debris - none of them aware of the dangers they faced.
This is a very well researched book with many interviews of service personnel many of whom were excited to be going on a secret classified mission. No accountability or compensation by British or Australian politicians for the tragic health consequences for servicemen and their families even to this day. A shocking shameful account which should be compulsory reading in all schools not a redacted part of history which most political parties would prefer.

[Em&M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Horrifying and eye opening, dispite being repetitive in places this is a thorough compilation of evidence and accounts around Australian nuclear testing. It's a topic that young Australians, myself included, are almost completely ignorant of. Walker is an evocative and persuasive writer, and regardless of your thoughts on nuclear power/weapons his writing and presentation of facts will have you outraged and questioning the decisions made at the time. An important introductory read to the issue.

[Faisal Halla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply interesting book which examined exactly what it’s description aimed to do. A somewhat hidden history of not just Australia’s controversial past, but also of a broader nuclear issue as a result of global powers testing their new weapons.

(Possible spoilers)
The sections about Aboriginal tribes which had their first interaction with the modern world being from their witnessing a nuclear explosion is downright fascinating. The book causes you to place yourselves in their shoes and to think what that must have been like.

[Kathy S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive book about this dark part of Australian history and the British and Australian governments’ unwillingness to compensate or even recognise the damage done to the servicemen and aboriginals whose lives were destroyed there. Having recently visited the test site, this book adds to my knowledge about the British atomic tests and the disdain the British scientists had for we colonials. I felt great anger and sadness as I read the book.

[Z.K. Dorward · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of Maralinga, Monte Bello and Emu Field needs to be taught in Australian schools. I knew almost nothing about what happened before I read this book - it was never mentioned in my school, even though it was heavily environment-focused (and I was in high school in 2007-2012).
I live in Port Lincoln. According to my grandmother, all of the trees on one side of the road got covered in fallout and lost all their leaves.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m genuinely horrified I knew NOTHING about the history of nuclear testing in Australia until a colleague passed me this book. Once again, highlighting the woeful education I received on Australian history. It’s clear in the first chapter the author has an axe to grind with the government of the day but he makes a damnned good case for it. In the age of conspiracy and fake news, it’s a little hard to read about actual negligence and coverups by the British and Australian government.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but didn't want to read it all. Shows how bad Menzies was to just let Britain use our country as a nuclear testing ground.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and informative. A story that needed to be told.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating and infuriating look at a little known part of Australian history.

[Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished this chilling account of the British atomic testing in Australia in the 1950's. Cover-ups, collusion, corruption at all levels and by various political persuasions. Bones (femurs, vertebrae and skulls) of 20,000 deceased Australian foetuses, babies, children and young adults were collected without parental consent or knowledge for radiation testing (Strontium-90) across Australia. Aboriginal peoples were dispossessed and ignored and denied their suffering the effects of radiation as a result of atomic testing and what they describe as the "Black Mist."
Ask any young person today if they have heard of Maralinga and they are clueless.
Today with talks of AUKUS, US nuclear submarines being based in Perth, potential dumping of overseas nuclear waste in and around Australia and the potential for our own nuclear waste as a result of proposals for nuclear reactors in this Country we need to be mindful of what our political leaders are willing to disclose and what will remain "Sensitive - not for public disclosure".
𝐂𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫-𝐮𝐩, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. You can certainly add this to the list of horrors that occurred in Australia and aren't taught about at school. I am honestly stunned at how poorly treated our veterans were, and still are. Let's also not forget the callous disregard for our Traditional Owners that also persists.

Reading this book also reminded me of a former co-worker of mine who was a veteran. Every year he would have to undergo a range of health-related tests. I remember the tales he shared of his time in the RAAF, scrubbing and cleaning all sorts of equipment with no PPE. The dots didn't connect at the time, because I didn't know that atomic bombs were detonated in Australia. He served during the same time period, and at one of the bases mentioned in the book.

Now it all makes sense, and I feel ashamed that I'm only drawing this conclusion now.

[Didy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. 12 atomic bombs tested on Australian soil plus other dirtier tests involving Uranium, Beryllium and Plutonium. The cover up, lies and spin are mind boggling. The injustices to Aboriginal peoples, Defence personnel and civilians is hard to read. Well researched, this book is captivating as it is confronting. The British Government never acknowledged that personnel were exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. The Menzies Government were complicit. Successive Australian Governments refused compensation or helped with ensuing health problems.

[Jesskvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but his writing style was just a little too aggressive and emotive. I would have prefered more facts and less alarmism. Also, some of the conclusions he comes to, aren't exactly founded in science and are a little unfair (i.e. he suggests that one of the soldiers exposed to the radiation had two grand children with asthma, suggesting it was the cause, which is entirely ridiculous).