There was a bit of excitement preparing for the bombs. On the ship we were patched into the aircraft so you could hear the communication between the pilot and the control. We could hear the countdown and when the bomb was dropped and then the countdown started upwards before we were allowed to turn around.
When the bombs detonated you got x-ray like vision, even with your eyes closed. You felt this heat like the opening of an oven door – just a flash of heat, then you got this shock wave. At 1500 feet that shock wave is quite significant.
We used to get leave from the ship to go ashore to Christmas Island to the canteen. You would make the most of your time there and drink as many beers as you could before you had to head back to the ship!
You could also do recreational swimming in the lagoon on Christmas Island. I remember someone putting a shark in there that someone had caught which caused some drama!
There was no problem with the children that were born before Grapple, but those that had more children after Grapple…well that’s where the problems started. It’s heart breaking. I was only a real young fella up there at the time but afterwards, my first wife had 13 miscarriages and it put a lot of pressure on that marriage. I have no natural born children.
I left the Navy after 36 years, retiring as Warrant Officer Master of Arms. I was awarded the NZ Defence Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) in 1988 for outstanding service to the Navy.