When soldier George Davies was posted to Christmas Island in 1957, he had no idea of how it would affect the rest of his life.
Then just 21, he witnessed three of the atomic bomb tests by the British and United States Governments carried out at the time to try to match Soviet technology during the Cold War.
Now, 72, George, from Partick Road, Pennywell, is one of many soldiers who spent time on the Indian Ocean island who believe they have suffered health problems because of the nuclear bomb blasts.
The grandad-of-six has joined hundreds of veterans in one of the country's biggest ever test case compensation claims.
If successful they could win unlimited damages from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), who they say knew, or should have known, about the potentially devastating effects of the bomb tests.
"Soldiers from other countries have had compensation, but British troops have had nowt," said George, who has had two hernias, a quadruple heart bypass, major gastric stomach problems and developed Parkinson's disease four years ago.
"The Government is frightened because this case could open the floodgates and cost them a lot of money, even though there's not many of us left."
George, who later worked as a welder at Short's Pallion shipyard, went to Christmas Island as an engineer for a year from November 1957, just three months after joining the Army.
"They said they were experimenting with atomic bombs and hydrogen bombs.
"But they didn't say anything about radiation, that's a certainty."
George said the natives used to get shipped off the island while tests were carried out, while hundreds of British servicemen were in a field facing away from the bomb drops.
"The blasts used to lift us off our feet," said George.
"You had your hands in front of your eyes and when the flash came you could see the bones through your fingers.
"All we had on for protection was pair of khaki shorts and one of those daft soft hats. That was it."
He added: "Some of the lads were taken really bad. One fella's teeth fell out."
George – whose grandchildren include High Barnes teenage singing starlet Leanne Lawson – has been married to his wife Irene for 48 years.
The couple particularly want the gross negligence claim to succeed to help widows and families of Christmas Island veterans who have since died.


New genetic link could be vital

More than 1,000 Christmas Island ex-servicemen are thought to be suing the Ministry of Defence.
London law firm Rosenblatt this month filed a writ in the High Court on behalf of 180 claimants, which also says some of their children have been born without arms or legs.
The MoD has always denied any link between the bomb tests and the illnesses later suffered by veterans.
Lawyers acting for the claimants believe a new link uncovered between genetic defects and nuclear tests will be crucial to the fight for compensation.
However, the case may never reach court as the MoD is using a limitation defence – that the cases should have been brought within three years of injuries appearing.
Rosenblatt consultant Mervyn Fudge said: "They are saying that these vets have known for more than three years that they have suffered injury by being exposed.
"They are trying to strike out the claim on a technicality.
"That is morally bankrupt because the Government has been saying since the mid-1980s, when these people started to think they may have been ill, that they were not exposed.
"They are now saying you should have brought the claim earlier, which is absolutely hypocritical. They want to have their cake and eat it."
The MoD said it was up to the courts to decide whether the group's action should proceed.
A spokesman said: "The UK Government recognises its obligations to veterans of the UK nuclear tests."
He added: "When compensation claims are received they are considered on the basis of whether or not the Ministry of Defence has a legal liability to pay compensation.
"Where there is a proven legal liability, compensation is paid."


Bomb isle factfile

Christmas Island was discovered in 1777 by Captain Cook.
Britain exploded its first hydrogen bomb – code-named Grapple X – on the island in 1957 as part of a series of tests in the Pacific.
The test took place at high altitude, about 18,000ft, to minimise nuclear fall-out.
The first H-bomb was dropped by a Valiant jet from Number 49 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, usually based at RAF Wittering, near Peterborough.
The controversial tests led to a major debate about the dangers of nuclear weapons.
They also led to the founding of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) in 1958.