My name is Teraabo (AKA Terri) Pollard, nee Tetoa, I was born on Christmas Island on the 28th March 1958 a few weeks before the largest British nuclear weapon ever tested was detonated with an explosive yield of 3 megatons of TNT as part of Operation Grapple.
I lived on Christmas Island until I left to attend secondary school on the capital island of Tarawa at the age of 11 years. I currently have lived in England with my husband and have done so for the last 43 years.
My family consists of my Father, Tekonau Tetoa and my Mother Taraem Tetoa who had gone to work at the Coconut plantations as Assistant Foreman and live on the Island, they had 10 children, 5 boys and 5 girls whom I am the fifth child, there are only now 5 siblings surviving, one of which is my older sister Teeua who to this day still lives on Christmas Island, the other three surviving sisters now live on Tarawa. Sadly my father, mother and all my brothers died very early in life.
Many of my family experienced unexplained medical issues including myself and one younger brother Takieta who was born on Christmas Island in 1961 died of Leukemia before his third birthday.
Through the work of LABRATS I became aware that my father who had liaised and worked with the British Military as a civilian on Christmas Island, who was known by the nicknames of either Tek or John, may be eligible for a Nuclear Test Medal.
This started a year long process of applying to the Ministry of Defence with numerous emails back and forth supplying additional information, which was finally rewarded with a successful application and my father being posthumously awarded a Nuclear Test Medal something I and my family are exceptionally proud of.
One of the motivations for writing the brief article is the hope that others can be made aware that their relatives too may be eligible and hopefully will encourage them to apply on their behalf.
LABRATS COMMENTS
We would encourage anyone who was present at the UK testing program to apply for the NTV Medal if they believe they are eligible. This medal is the first to be awarded to an indigenous person on Christmas Island, but we believe many more are eligible and will be working closely with other applicants to get the recognition they deserve. The medal award to Tekonau Tetoa was only possible due to the determination of Terri and her husband, who overcame language barriers and the obstacles put in place by the Ministry of Defence.
These people deserve recognition and they deserve to be honoured for their service.
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