A
lesser-known episode within the decades-long contamination of Gruinard Island
by anthrax as a result of biological weapons research is the appearance of
anthrax on the Scottish mainland in 1943 and the subsequent payment of
compensation to owners of animals that had died. For a time there was a sort of
legend about this compensation being paid ‘by return’ as soon as it was
claimed. In fact those in charge did not exactly rush to the cash-box, as a
Ministry of Agriculture (MAF) file, declassified in 1999, shows. (National
Archives reference MAF 287/9, Outbreak of anthrax in Ross and Cromarty: claims
for compensation, 1943-1968.) In 1968 the Ministry of Defence denied that
it could find any record of compensation.
Tam Dalyell MP in New Scientist,
20 April 2002, p.51 quoted the then Minister for Veterans’ Affairs at the MoD
as saying “that archives now in the public domain show that following the tests
there was an anthrax outbreak on the mainland which was said to be caused by an
infected sheep being washed away from Gruinard. Between September 1942 and
March 1943, seven cattle, two horses, three cats and between 30 and 50 sheep
died on the nearby mainland, he added. However, the Ministry of Agriculture
said that only two of these deaths were caused by anthrax.”
The news of the dead animals was communicated to the ministry by Mr A C
Urquhart, Divisional Inspector for Animal Health, on 28 February 1943. The
death of a heifer a week previously had been reported to the police as
suspected anthrax, and in the previous year a carcase of a breed and origin “unknown
locally” had been washed up in an inlet off Gruinard Bay. Local rumour
suggested experiments of great secrecy going on, involving “poison gas dropped
from aeroplanes”.
Dr Paul Fildes, leading the research, considered the business
unfortunate, and the rumours important, but thought that if he sent a party to
explore the mainland beaches “the whole thing would get out”. Instead he suggested
locals might be asked to collect dead animals and birds and have them sent to
Porton. If they had come from the island, he reckoned “our grave [of sheep used
in the experiments] must have been disturbed by the winter storms”.
A Ministry of Agriculture Area Inspector sent to investigate confirmed
that at least three sheep had been washed up the previous September, of which
two had gone back out to sea. In his view deaths might quite probably
recommence unless action was taken.
A cover story would be needed if there was to be an official response to
formal claims for compensation. Enter Mr Fish, describing himself as a security
office, who gave the line: to ascribe the anthrax’s origin to one sheep, which
it was to be said had been traced to a Greek ship. The utmost secrecy as to the
actual source of the sheep was essential, Fish explained, to prevent news of
the Gruinard experiments reaching Germany. Fildes approved this “ingenious
solution”, by which the payment of compensation of a little over £300 would be
presented as a charge on the Greek government, to be settled between the two
allies after the war.
Others were more sceptical. In a memo of 24 April 1943 from the Animal
Health Division in Dingwall, Urquhart reported that the Greek ship story had
gone down with the natives as well as could be expected. Personally he took a
dim view, repeating that Gruinard was “too close” even though “you may get away
with it this time”. He added his opinion that in spite of what the department
concerned said, it was anthrax spore infection.
A meeting of ministry representatives with the Treasury in May came
round to the idea of an “ex gratia” payment, while in a feat of
double-think, MAF also took the view that compensation was properly payable as
the trouble had arisen through the direct agency of HM Government and probably
as a result of carelessness in the part of its agents. At the same time they
agreed with Fildes about the need to avoid any disclosure of the nature of
operations on the island, so that it would be preferable to pay via another
Department, to avoid setting a precedent. The possibility of recurring
outbreaks was a difficulty. The Minister of Information was against further
payments in the event of more deaths. He thought the Greek ship story feasible,
as it had already gained some credence, but the Treasury rejected it, although
they could suggest no alternative other than to pay up and shut up about why.
After further discussion it was settled that the Ministry of Supply
should make money available via a Scottish Office representative making a
personal visit, and getting a receipt in full settlement from each crofter.
Officials would accept the view that the trouble was in some way related to war
conditions, and that it was made on account of the death of the animals. They
would continue to monitor the situation and would arrange vaccination of
animals.
Nevertheless, in September 1943 Urquhart found anthrax again confirmed
in a dead heifer. He reckoned no clue to the origin of the infection could be
found other than the Centre At Gruinard. In early October the owner claimed for
the animal he had lost. Meanwhile men from the ministry met Fildes, who had
admitted that while there was some doubt about activities on Gruinard being
again responsible, it was the most plausible explanation. Eventually a letter
was sent on 10 July 1944 stating that no compensation was being offered, but
payment was being made with reference to the death of the animal. An envelope
in the file contains a certificate of infection with anthrax.
Serious concerns were emerging. Apprehensively MAF enquired of Fildes whether
he intended to initiate more experiments but were told the idea had been
abandoned in favour of future collaboration with Canada and the USA, if more
such work was needed. In June 1945 Fildes admitted to the War Cabinet
Inter-Services Sub-Committee that Gruinard Island was very heavily infected,
and would not be fit to restore for normal purposes for very long time, at
least 30 years – an underestimate, as it turned out. He himself “hoped to be
out of the subject in a few weeks”, having “no idea how to clean the island
up”. MAF was to be consulted on any necessary action to prevent it being “a
menace to the mainland”.
In July 1966 the Director of Microbiological Research at Porton was
estimating that it would take 100 years to decontaminate the island –
fortunately, this turned out to be an overestimate.
http://smothpubs.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/before-2013-more-on-2012-anniversaries.html
here is the full article as submitted to Medicine, Conflict & Survival
 |
| Gruinard Island nestles close to the mainland, Aultbea, Laide and Isle Martin |
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