An Oral History of British Nuclear Test Veterans

The landmark project 'An Oral History of British Nuclear Test Veterans' documents the experiences of military and civilian personnel who took part in British nuclear test operations between 1952 and 1967.

The project makes a unique contribution to postwar social history, recognising the backgrounds, careers and struggles of the men who helped make Britain a nuclear power.

'Voices of British Nuclear Test Veterans' is the project website hosted by The British Library, and the project film The Greatest Force on Earth is also available to view. 

Forty-one oral history interviews were recorded for ‘An Oral History of British Nuclear Test Veterans’. This oral history project was led by researchers from the University of South Wales and the University of Liverpool, and archived by National Life Stories, the oral history charity at the British Library.

Download the report

You can download the full report here: An Oral History of British Nuclear Test Veterans [PDF 1.7MB]

The project was funded by the Office for Veterans’ Affairs in 2023, not long after the then Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced a ‘Nuclear Test Medal’ for participants in military operations between 1952 and 1967.