Kiwi veterans eligible for British Nuclear Test Medal

The British Nuclear Test Medal was announced by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in November 2022, 70 years after the first British test of a nuclear weapon.  It recognises military, civilian, and overseas staff and personnel who participated in Britain’s nuclear testing programme in the 1950s and 1960s.

The Medal is awarded to UK and Commonwealth Service and civilian personnel who served at the locations where the UK atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted, including the preparatory and clear-up phases, between 1952 and 1967.

It includes Operation Hurricane (Christmas Island); Operation Totem (Emu Field, Australia); Operation Mosaic (Montebello Islands, Australia); Operation Buffalo (Maralinga Island, Australia); Operation Grapple (Malden Island, Christmas Island, Kiribati) and Operation Antler (South Australia, Western Australia).

Full eligibility criteria for the Nuclear Test Medal can be found here. 

Applications are now open for eligible veterans, civilians and their next of kin.  For more information visit the gov.uk website. 

For any questions, please email the British High Commission at Defence.Wellington@fcdo.gov.uk.

For New Zealand veterans, the order of wear is immediately after the NZ Defence Service Medal. For more information see Order of Wear