ARTHUR DIXON

Ordered into ground zero after four different blasts in Operation Grapple, the 21-year-old Royal Engineer was tasked with turning on and sandbagging generators.

Now 85, and living in Southampton, he recalls being ordered into decontamination showers back in camp, and having several blood tests. He added: “I wrote off for my medical records – and they sent back a page with only one test on it. I’m interested to see the results of the others but I’m one of the lucky ones, I’m pretty healthy.”

His single record shows he was anaemic – a common side effect of radiation.