A Grafton man thought to be the last surviving link to an undercover British nuclear operation has passed away.

Samuel Darke was a teenager when he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was subsequently given orders to participate in a top-secret mission known as Operation Totem where a pair of British atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted in the South Australian outback in October 1953.

Almost 70 years after the events took place, he was finally presented with the Nuclear Test Medal, only made available to recipients by the British Government in 2022, during a ceremony at his residence at Whiddon Grafton on April 24, 2024.

A lifelong Clarence Valley resident, Mr Darke passed away peacefully last week with his family by his side.

He was 93.

He was among a small group of Australian personnel involved in the trials, which have since been the subject of historical review and recognition. His service reflects a little-known chapter of Cold War-era cooperation between Australia and the United Kingdom.

A witness to one of the country’s biggest and most historical secrets of the 20th century, a life member and co-founder of the Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club (GVMVC), a loving husband, devoted father, and a cherished pop, great pop, and great-great-pop to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, Samuel Darke, forever remembered as a true gentleman and a hero, passed away on April 26, aged 93.

Born in South Grafton on January 15, 1933, Mr Darke spent his early childhood in the Upper Clarence alongside his six brothers and sisters, growing up on a dairy farm where everyone had their respective roles and responsibilities.

When he was 19, he enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and was instructed to take part in a secret mission.

Known as Operation Totem, Mr Darke’s role as a young RAAF driver was to transport scientists into the desert where a pair of British atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted at Emu Field in South Australia in October 1953.

Upon arrival at the location, three miles from the detonation site, Mr Darke was told to cover his eyes and turn away from the explosion.

He recalled feeling a flash from the top of his head to the souls of his feet, and a burning heat unlike any other.

When his sergeant gave him permission to turn around, he saw a rising orange fireball light up the sky.

And then, without warning, the impact from the blast hit him and knocked him off his feet.

Years later, he would go on to describe himself as being “too bloody close” to the action.

During his service with the RAAF, Mr Darke declined the opportunity to participate in a second detonation, called Totem 2, declaring “once was enough.”

Sworn to secrecy, he was prohibited from speaking about his experiences at Emu Field and kept his story close to his heart for many years.

After he was discharged from the RAAF in 1954, Mr Darke returned to the Clarence Valley and married his beloved wife Elizabeth, fondly known as Betty, in 1956, and the couple went on to raise four children, sons Stephen (deceased), Donald, and Dennis, and daughter Carol.

A passionate car enthusiast, Mr Darke helped establish the GVMVC in 1962.

Two of his most prized possessions, a 1925 Bullnose Morris and a 1942 Morris Ute, remain in the family under the proud ownership of his sons.

But the confronting sight of the atomic blast after Totem 1 was detonated never strayed far from his mind.

It was more than 70 years after the British atmospheric nuclear tests were conducted that Mr Darke was finally recognised for his contributions when he was presented with the Nuclear Test Medal by Member for Clarence Richie Williamson.

His son Dennis applied for the accolade on his behalf, describing it as a fitting tribute which had been a long time coming after the British Government only made it available to recipients in 2022.

Prior to his passing, Mr Darke had been a resident of Whiddon Grafton alongside his wife since 2021.

Residential Services Manager of Whiddon Grafton Sandra Osbourne said the team will miss him enormously.

“His stories, his warmth, and that unmistakable sense that you were in the presence of someone who had truly lived an incredible life, we send all our love to Betty, Dennis, Carol, Donald, and the broader Darke family,” she said.

Relatives and friends of Mr Darke respectfully attended his funeral service at St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Grafton on May 5.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 8 May 2026.