Britain and the H-bomb by Lorna Arnold, Palgrave, 拢15.99, ISBN
0333947428
THE British nuclear weapons factory at Aldermaston in Berkshire was not, says
Lorna Arnold, 鈥渁 natural home for chauvinists, warmongers or Dr Strangeloves鈥�.
Its scientists were 鈥渉eroes鈥�, its chemists and engineers 鈥渂rilliant鈥濃�攅ven
their wives were 鈥渨arm-hearted鈥�, says Arnold.
Britain and the H-bomb鈥攁s you would expect from Britain鈥檚 official
nuclear historian鈥攊s a clear, detailed and authoritative history of the
most destructive weapon ever invented. But with the copyright retained by the
Ministry of Defence, it is not exactly a critical appraisal.
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It does confirm, though, that the major reason for Britain鈥檚 crash H-bomb
programme鈥攚hich came just months before the first moratorium on nuclear
tests, in October 1958鈥攚as not to frighten the Soviets, but to impress the
Americans. Arnold also provides fascinating insights into the obsessive secrecy
of British prime ministers, one of whom, Harold Macmillan, even kept military
chiefs of staff out of the loop on H-bomb tests.
Along the way we learn, that the major bomb components were called 鈥淭om鈥�,
鈥淒ick鈥� and 鈥淗arry鈥�, that plasticine was key in its construction and that the
1.8-megaton Blue Danube fell in 鈥渁 graceful arc in the morning sunlight鈥�. But
when it comes to assessing the health effects on those who took part in the
tests or, for that matter, the morality or wisdom of nuclear deterrence, we get
little more than a regurgitation of the official line.