LOCAL MP Terry Lewis is backing a campaign to find out more about germ warfare experiments at the Government's secret Porton Down complex - because he was one of the guinea pigs.

The Worsley Labour backbencher was just 19 when he volunteered to take part in experiments at the Wiltshire base, to avoid an inspection at the barracks where he was stationed as a National Serviceman.

Recently police have mounted a major investigation into complaints that up to 25 soldiers, sailors, and airmen may have died as a result of experiments into nerve gas.

The growing probe follows relatives contacting them, claiming that National Servicemen were conned into taking part in the trials, believing it was research into the common cold that was taking place.

At least one airman is known to have died in 1953 - the then 20-year-old Ronald Maddison, after the nerve agent Sarin was dripped onto a piece of uniform taped to his arm.

Up to 25 others may also have died and now, as well as their relatives, hundreds of ex-servicemen are being interviewed in a rapidly widening investigation.

Mr Lewis, now 63, was stationed at Crookham, near Aldershot, as a drill corporal in the Army Medical Corps in 1955.

He said: "We heard that there was going to be an inspection from the General Officer commanding. At the same time we saw a notice offering us double wages for two weeks if we went to Porton Down.

"I and a fellow corporal and drill instructor, Robbo, who is a Scotsman, decided to go. It seemed better than the inspection.

"The Commanding Officer went bananas, but was told that as we had volunteered we had to go.

"We arrived at the base on the day that Manchester City played Newcastle United in the FA Cup final in 1955. I remember because we dropped our things and went to watch.

"We stayed at a little RAF unit there and it was luxury.

"I can't remember what they said we were doing, but there was no suggestion it was about nerve gas.

"My memory is not very good, and I was just a daft 19-year-old National Serviceman.

"They didn't drop the gas on my uniform but they did give us injections, which they said were in case we accidentally took something in, and we did go to the gas chambers. No one really told us what we were doing.

"I am lucky. It doesn't seem to have done any damage to me, but I'd really like to help the inquiry and those people concerned with the campaign, for all my National Service colleagues who took part in the experiments.

"I'd like to find out what happened to Robbo and, if any of my constituents or other people locally took part would like to contact me, I would be delighted to help.

"As one of the guinea pigs, I would really like to find out what was going on and what damage was done."

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