Gruinard Island
Encyclopedia
Gruinard Island is a small, oval-shaped Scottish
island approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long by 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) wide, located in Gruinard Bay
, about halfway between Gairloch
and Ullapool
. At its closest point to the mainland it is just more than 1.1 kilometre (0.683510010314787 mi) offshore. The island was made dangerous for all mammals by experiments with the anthrax
bacterium, until it was decontaminated in the late 20th century.
, Gruinard was the site of a biological warfare
test by British
military scientists from Porton Down
. At that time there was an investigation by the British
government into the feasibility of an attack using anthrax: to test the vulnerability of Britain against a German
attack and the viability of attacking Germany with a British bio-weapon. Given the nature of the weapon which was being developed, it was recognised that tests would cause widespread and long-lasting contamination of the immediate area by anthrax spores. In order to limit contamination a remote and uninhabited island was required. After a survey, Gruinard was deemed suitable and was compulsorily purchased
from its owners by the British Government.
The anthrax strain chosen for the Gruinard bioweapons trials was a highly virulent type called "Vollum 14578", named after R.L. Vollum, Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Oxford
, who supplied it. Eighty sheep were taken to the island and bombs filled with anthrax
spores were exploded close to where selected groups were tethered. The sheep became infected with anthrax and began to die within days of exposure. Some of the experiments were recorded on 16 mm colour movie film, which was declassified
in 1997. One sequence shows the detonation of an anthrax bomb fixed at the end of a tall pole supported with guy ropes. When the bomb is detonated a brownish aerosol cloud drifts away towards the target animals. A later sequence shows anthrax-infected sheep carcasses being burned in incinerators, following the conclusion of the experiment.http://www.sonicbomb.com/iv1.php?vid=anthrax_island&id=533&w=400&h=300&ttitle=Anthrax%20Island
After the tests were completed, British scientists concluded that a large release of anthrax spores would thoroughly pollute German cities, rendering them uninhabitable for decades afterwards. These conclusions were supported by the discovery that after the biological warfare trials had ended, initial efforts to decontaminate the island failed due to the high durability of anthrax spores. For many years, it was judged too hazardous and expensive to decontaminate the island sufficiently to allow public access. As a result, Gruinard Island was quarantine
d indefinitely. Visits to the island were prohibited, except periodic checks by Porton Down personnel to determine the current level of contamination.
" which demanded that the government decontaminate the island, and reported that a "team of microbiologists from two universities" had landed on the island with the aid of local people and collected 300 lbs of soil. The group threatened to leave samples of the soil "at appropriate points that will ensure the rapid loss of indifference of the government and the equally rapid education of the general public". The same day a sealed package of soil was left outside the military research facility at Porton Down
; tests revealed that it contained anthrax bacilli. A few days later another sealed package of soil was left in Blackpool
, where the ruling Conservative Party
was holding its annual conference. The soil did not contain anthrax, but officials said that the soil was similar to that found on the island.
solution diluted in seawater being sprayed over all 196 hectares of the island and the worst-contaminated topsoil around the dispersal site being removed. A flock of sheep was then placed on the island and remained healthy. On April 24, 1990, after 48 years of quarantine and 4 years after the solution being applied, junior defence minister Michael Neubert
visited the island and announced its safety by removing the warning signs. As of October 2007 there have been no cases of anthrax in the island flock.
by Desmond Bagley
(1977), Sea of Death by Richard P. Henrick
(1992), The Fist of God
by Frederick Forsyth
(1994), Quantico by Greg Bear
(2005), The Big Over Easy
by Jasper Fforde
(2005), Forbidden Island by Malcolm Rose
(2009), And then you die
by Iris Johansen
(1998), and The Island by R J Price (better-known as the poet Richard Price
) (2010).
In issues 187-188 of the comic book Hellblazer
, in a story titled "Bred in the Bone", the protagonist's niece finds herself on Gruinard surrounded by flesh-eating children. The issues were released in 2003 and were written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Doug Alexander Gregory.
An episode of the British wartime TV series Foyle's War
entitled "Bad Blood" involved biological testing – a strong reference to the Gruinard testing.
The Hawaii Five-O
episode "Three Dead Cows at Makapu, Part 2" featured a scientist played by Ed Flanders
who threatened to unleash a deadly virus on the island of Oahu
. When being interrogated, the scientist briefly mentions Gruinard Island and how it will be uninhabitable for a century due to anthrax experiments.
Outlying Islands
, a Fringe First winning play by Scottish dramatist David Greig
, is a fictionalized account of two British scientists' visit to an island in Scotland where the government plans to test anthrax inspired by the story of Gruinard.
Art Project based on Gruinard weapons testing : http://www.locusplus.org.uk/lg.html
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
island approximately 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) long by 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) wide, located in Gruinard Bay
Gruinard Bay
Gruinard Bay is a large remote coastal embayment, located 12 miles north of Poolewe, in northwestern Ross and Cromarty, and is in the former parish of Lochbroom, in the west coast of Scotland.-Settlements:...
, about halfway between Gairloch
Gairloch
Gairloch is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch on the northwest coast of Scotland. A popular tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a small museum, several hotels, a community centre, a leisure centre with sports facilities, a local...
and Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
. At its closest point to the mainland it is just more than 1.1 kilometre (0.683510010314787 mi) offshore. The island was made dangerous for all mammals by experiments with the anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
bacterium, until it was decontaminated in the late 20th century.
Biological warfare testing
In 1942, during the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Gruinard was the site of a biological warfare
Biological warfare
Biological warfare is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi with intent to kill or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war...
test by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military scientists from Porton Down
Porton Down
Porton Down is a United Kingdom government and military science park. It is situated slightly northeast of Porton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. To the northwest lies the MoD Boscombe Down test range facility which is operated by QinetiQ...
. At that time there was an investigation by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government into the feasibility of an attack using anthrax: to test the vulnerability of Britain against a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
attack and the viability of attacking Germany with a British bio-weapon. Given the nature of the weapon which was being developed, it was recognised that tests would cause widespread and long-lasting contamination of the immediate area by anthrax spores. In order to limit contamination a remote and uninhabited island was required. After a survey, Gruinard was deemed suitable and was compulsorily purchased
Compulsory purchase order
A compulsory purchase order is a legal function in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland that allows certain bodies which need to obtain land or property to do so without the consent of the owner. It may be enforced if a proposed development is considered one for public betterment - for...
from its owners by the British Government.
The anthrax strain chosen for the Gruinard bioweapons trials was a highly virulent type called "Vollum 14578", named after R.L. Vollum, Professor of Bacteriology at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, who supplied it. Eighty sheep were taken to the island and bombs filled with anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
spores were exploded close to where selected groups were tethered. The sheep became infected with anthrax and began to die within days of exposure. Some of the experiments were recorded on 16 mm colour movie film, which was declassified
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
in 1997. One sequence shows the detonation of an anthrax bomb fixed at the end of a tall pole supported with guy ropes. When the bomb is detonated a brownish aerosol cloud drifts away towards the target animals. A later sequence shows anthrax-infected sheep carcasses being burned in incinerators, following the conclusion of the experiment.http://www.sonicbomb.com/iv1.php?vid=anthrax_island&id=533&w=400&h=300&ttitle=Anthrax%20Island
After the tests were completed, British scientists concluded that a large release of anthrax spores would thoroughly pollute German cities, rendering them uninhabitable for decades afterwards. These conclusions were supported by the discovery that after the biological warfare trials had ended, initial efforts to decontaminate the island failed due to the high durability of anthrax spores. For many years, it was judged too hazardous and expensive to decontaminate the island sufficiently to allow public access. As a result, Gruinard Island was quarantine
Quarantine
Quarantine is compulsory isolation, typically to contain the spread of something considered dangerous, often but not always disease. The word comes from the Italian quarantena, meaning forty-day period....
d indefinitely. Visits to the island were prohibited, except periodic checks by Porton Down personnel to determine the current level of contamination.
Operation Dark Harvest
In 1981 British newspapers began receiving messages with the heading "Operation Dark HarvestDark Harvest Commando
The Dark Harvest Commando was a militant group which in 1981 demanded that the British government decontaminate Gruinard Island, a site which had been used for anthrax weapon testing during World War II....
" which demanded that the government decontaminate the island, and reported that a "team of microbiologists from two universities" had landed on the island with the aid of local people and collected 300 lbs of soil. The group threatened to leave samples of the soil "at appropriate points that will ensure the rapid loss of indifference of the government and the equally rapid education of the general public". The same day a sealed package of soil was left outside the military research facility at Porton Down
Porton Down
Porton Down is a United Kingdom government and military science park. It is situated slightly northeast of Porton near Salisbury in Wiltshire, England. To the northwest lies the MoD Boscombe Down test range facility which is operated by QinetiQ...
; tests revealed that it contained anthrax bacilli. A few days later another sealed package of soil was left in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, where the ruling Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
was holding its annual conference. The soil did not contain anthrax, but officials said that the soil was similar to that found on the island.
Decontamination
Starting in 1986 a determined effort was made to decontaminate the island, with 280 tonnes of formaldehydeFormaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
solution diluted in seawater being sprayed over all 196 hectares of the island and the worst-contaminated topsoil around the dispersal site being removed. A flock of sheep was then placed on the island and remained healthy. On April 24, 1990, after 48 years of quarantine and 4 years after the solution being applied, junior defence minister Michael Neubert
Michael Neubert
Sir Michael Jon Neubert was Conservative MP for Romford from 1974 until 1997. His loss in the election that year was considered something of surprise....
visited the island and announced its safety by removing the warning signs. As of October 2007 there have been no cases of anthrax in the island flock.
Popular culture references
The island is mentioned in the novels The EnemyThe Enemy (Desmond Bagley novel)
The Enemy is a first person narrative espionage thriller novel by English author Desmond Bagley, first published in 1977.-Plot introduction:...
by Desmond Bagley
Desmond Bagley
Desmond Bagley , was a British journalist and novelist principally known for a series of best-selling thrillers...
(1977), Sea of Death by Richard P. Henrick
Richard P. Henrick
Richard P. Henrick is an American novelist and screenwriter whose works include Crimson Tide, Attack on the Queen and Nightwatch. A recognized master of naval fiction and submarine adventure, he has published over 18 books in numerous different countries and languages. He was born in St...
(1992), The Fist of God
The Fist of God
The Fist of God is a 1994 novel by Frederick Forsyth, mixing known fact with fiction to tell a story of the coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War racing against time to discover the true nature of Saddam Hussein's secret weapon, 'The Fist of God.'...
by Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
(1994), Quantico by Greg Bear
Greg Bear
Gregory Dale Bear is an American science fiction and mainstream author. His work has covered themes of galactic conflict , artificial universes , consciousness and cultural practices , and accelerated evolution...
(2005), The Big Over Easy
The Big Over Easy
The Big Over Easy is a novel written by Jasper Fforde and published in 2005. It features Detective Inspector Jack Spratt and his assistant, Sergeant Mary Mary....
by Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde
Jasper Fforde is a British novelist. Fforde's first novel, The Eyre Affair, was published in 2001. Fforde is mainly known for his Thursday Next novels, although he has written several books in the loosely connected Nursery Crime series and begun two more independent series: The Last Dragonslayer...
(2005), Forbidden Island by Malcolm Rose
Malcolm Rose
Malcolm Rose is a British young-adult author. Many of his books, including the Traces and Lawless and Tilley series, are mysteries or thrillers where the hero uses science to catch the criminal or terrorist.- Biography :...
(2009), And then you die
And Then You Die
And Then You Die is a novel by Michael Dibdin, and is the eighth entry in the popular Aurelio Zen series.-Plot:Aurelio Zen is back, but nobody's supposed to know it...After months in hospital recovering from a bomb attack on his car, Zen is lying low under a false name at a beach resort on the...
by Iris Johansen
Iris Johansen
Iris Johansen is an American author of crime fiction and romance novels.-Biography:Johansen began writing after her children left home for college. She first achieved success in the early 1980s writing category romances. In 1991, Johansen began writing suspense historical romance novels,...
(1998), and The Island by R J Price (better-known as the poet Richard Price
Richard Price (poet)
Richard Price is a contemporary Scottish poet, novelist, and translator. -Life:He grew up in Renfrewshire.He studied at Napier College, in journalism, and graduated the University of Strathclyde in English and Librarianship, with a joint first.He earned a PhD at University of...
) (2010).
In issues 187-188 of the comic book Hellblazer
Hellblazer
Hellblazer is a contemporary horror comic book series, originally published by DC Comics, and subsequently by the Vertigo imprint since March 1993, the month the imprint was introduced, where it remains to this day...
, in a story titled "Bred in the Bone", the protagonist's niece finds herself on Gruinard surrounded by flesh-eating children. The issues were released in 2003 and were written by Mike Carey and illustrated by Doug Alexander Gregory.
An episode of the British wartime TV series Foyle's War
Foyle's War
Foyle's War is a British detective drama television series set during World War II, created by screenwriter and author Anthony Horowitz, and was commissioned by ITV after the long-running series Inspector Morse came to an end in 2000. It has aired on ITV since 2002...
entitled "Bad Blood" involved biological testing – a strong reference to the Gruinard testing.
The Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
episode "Three Dead Cows at Makapu, Part 2" featured a scientist played by Ed Flanders
Ed Flanders
Edward Paul Flanders was an American actor best known for his role as Dr. Donald Westphall in the television series St. Elsewhere.- Biography :...
who threatened to unleash a deadly virus on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. When being interrogated, the scientist briefly mentions Gruinard Island and how it will be uninhabitable for a century due to anthrax experiments.
Outlying Islands
Outlying Islands (play)
Outlying Islands is a play by David Greig, set on a remote Scottish island in the summer of 1939. Two ornithologists - young, impulsive and English Robert and the more conservative yet naive Scottish John - are sent to catalogue the bird colonies on the island...
, a Fringe First winning play by Scottish dramatist David Greig
David Greig (dramatist)
David Greig is a Scottish playwright and theatre director.Greig was born in Edinburgh in 1969 and was brought up in Nigeria. He studied drama at Bristol University. He has been commissioned by the Royal Court Theatre, the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company amongst others.His...
, is a fictionalized account of two British scientists' visit to an island in Scotland where the government plans to test anthrax inspired by the story of Gruinard.
External links
- Archive colour 16 mm footage from 1942, showing the Bioweapons testing on Gruinard island
- Gruinard Island photo
- More footage of the testing done on Gruinard Island
Art Project based on Gruinard weapons testing : http://www.locusplus.org.uk/lg.html