Opening tomorrow evening, "Operation Grapple — We Were There" is a powerful photography exhibition by Denise Baynham that tells the story of Operation Grapple through the portraits of 19 New Zealand nuclear test veterans.
Operation Grapple was a British nuclear testing programme that took place in the Pacific in 1957-58.
The operation consisted of nine nuclear detonations at Christmas Island (now Kiritimati) and Malden Island. The biggest of the detonations, Grapple Y was equal to 140 Hiroshima bombs.
Two New Zealand frigates attended the series of detonations, HMNZS Pukaki and HMNZS Rotoiti.
Over the course of the tests, 551 New Zealand naval personnel manned the ships.
Their duties involved witnessing the detonation of the nuclear devices and collecting weather data as close as 37km to ground zero.
The project by Auckland-based photographer Baynham was born out of a family trip to the Devonport Navy Museum, where she first read about Operation Grapple.
Determined to shed more light on the operation she spent 18 months travelling the country, meeting, photographing and interviewing veterans present when the bombs went off.
This is the ninth opening of the exhibition in New Zealand.
She said something about Operation Grapple touched a chord within her.
"Their stories are incredibly sad — particularly looking back, there were such common threads — infertility, miscarriages, stillbirths. They have all suffered such heartache
... They’re all such incredible, amazing men and I felt a huge responsibility to tell their stories accurately."
The exhibition includes the photographs and stories of two South Canterbury men who were present for the operation.
Timaru’s Hank Cowan was a leading mechanical engineer aboard Pukaki and Geraldine’s Tex (William) Bradley was a petty officer aboard Rotoiti.
South Canterbury Museum director Philip Howe said the museum was delighted to bring the exhibition to the region.
"Especially as it features two local men among the 19 represented.
"It highlights a little-known part of our history, and a poignant story of how men and their families were affected by exposure to nuclear radiation.
"The stories are both fascinating and tragic, bringing a real human element to events from 70 years ago that have left a legacy on the lives of those who were there and those closest to them."
An opening event will be held tomorrow at 5.30pm. The exhibition runs to December 16.
