Facing Armageddon  
With the RAF on Christmas Island 1961–1962
Author(s): Chas Hall
Published by Grub Street
Publication Date:  Available in all formats
ISBN: 9781911714569
Pages: 0

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ISBN: 9781911714569 Price: INR 1184.99
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"...a worthy addition to a little-known aspect of British military history." — Flypast

After being called up for National Service in July 1960, twenty-year-old Chas Hall joined the RAF and signed on to extend his time for an extra three years becoming a regular serviceman. Following initial training, he became a wireless operator and served at RAF Mildenhall. It was shortly after this that he got his first foreign posting in late 1961 to Christmas Island. It was on this island, that Chas encountered the horrors of nuclear testing. In an operation codenamed ‘Brigadoon’ by the British government and ‘Dominic’ by the Americans, Chas experienced 25 atmospheric nuclear tests. This he describes as his ‘12-month sentence’ alongside over 300 British and 10,000 American servicemen who were posted to one corner of a remote coral island. Facing Armageddon reveals the true extent of the controversial nuclear testing and how it affected servicemen; with 25 men dying during Chas’s time on Christmas Island and many more suffering mentally as they continued serving on the island. With the British government announcing medals for nuclear test veterans in November 2022 to recognize their contribution in the tests after a four-year campaign by participants and The Mirror newspaper, Chas’s story gives insight to why these servicemen deserve the recognition for their part in these tests. This book will contain a number of unpublished photos from the author’s personal collection and is an essential piece of work in understanding the tough conditions servicemen faced during their time on Christmas Island.
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"...a worthy addition to a little-known aspect of British military history." — Flypast

After being called up for National Service in July 1960, twenty-year-old Chas Hall joined the RAF and signed on to extend his time for an extra three years becoming a regular serviceman. Following initial training, he became a wireless operator and served at RAF Mildenhall. It was shortly after this that he got his first foreign posting in late 1961 to Christmas Island. It was on this island, that Chas encountered the horrors of nuclear testing. In an operation codenamed ‘Brigadoon’ by the British government and ‘Dominic’ by the Americans, Chas experienced 25 atmospheric nuclear tests. This he describes as his ‘12-month sentence’ alongside over 300 British and 10,000 American servicemen who were posted to one corner of a remote coral island. Facing Armageddon reveals the true extent of the controversial nuclear testing and how it affected servicemen; with 25 men dying during Chas’s time on Christmas Island and many more suffering mentally as they continued serving on the island. With the British government announcing medals for nuclear test veterans in November 2022 to recognize their contribution in the tests after a four-year campaign by participants and The Mirror newspaper, Chas’s story gives insight to why these servicemen deserve the recognition for their part in these tests. This book will contain a number of unpublished photos from the author’s personal collection and is an essential piece of work in understanding the tough conditions servicemen faced during their time on Christmas Island.
Table of contents
  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • Contents
  • AUTHOR’S NOTE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  • LIST OF TERMINOLOGY
  • PROLOGUE
  • CHAPTER 1: GOODBYE CIVVY STREET
  • CHAPTER 2: PREPARING FOR PARADISE
  • CHAPTER 3: THE JOURNEY
  • CHAPTER 4: THE ISLAND
  • CHAPTER 5: CHRISTMAS ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND
  • CHAPTER 6: AROUND THE LAGOON
  • CHAPTER 7: MEETING THE LOCALS
  • CHAPTER 8: OPERATION DOMINIC ANNOUNCEMENT
  • CHAPTER 9: NEW ARRIVALS AND INTRODUCING MAHATMA
  • CHAPTER 10: THE FIRST TEST
  • CHAPTER 11: KEEP ‘EM COMING
  • CHAPTER 12: UNDER PRESSURE
  • CHAPTER 13: TAFF’S VISIT
  • CHAPTER 14: BIGHORN AND STARFISH PRIME
  • CHAPTER 15: BYE, MAHATMA – HELLO, HAWAII
  • CHAPTER 16: NEW MOONS AND TONGAREVA
  • CHAPTER 17: THE GRAPEFRUIT RUN
  • EPILOGUE
  • APPENDIX 1: LIST OF NUCLEAR TESTING THAT TOOK PLACE ON CHRISTMAS ISLAND
  • APPENDIX 2: CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR TEST MEDALS
  • PLATES
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