Britain's mysterious WW2 'island of death' | BBC Global

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 21 кві 2024
  • In the 1960s, the BBC set out to investigate local reports of secret, shocking World War Two experiments, dangerous contamination and unexplained animal deaths on a remote island off the coast of Scotland.
    Subscribe to BBC Global: ua-cam.com/users/bbc_global?...
    For the latest news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com
    #bbc #ww2 #history

КОМЕНТАРІ • 67

  • @b.a.erlebacher1139
    @b.a.erlebacher1139 Місяць тому +45

    This is the now well-known island where anthrax weaponization was tested. It has since been decontaminated and sold back to its original owners in 1990. The wikipedia article has all the details.

    • @patreekotime4578
      @patreekotime4578 Місяць тому +9

      It would have been nice if this was included as context in either the video or the description.

    • @daviecrocket9160
      @daviecrocket9160 Місяць тому

      Fine journalism from the BBC

    • @neilpatterson1615
      @neilpatterson1615 Місяць тому +4

      The farmer said he thought it was anthrax

  • @mikebutler3263
    @mikebutler3263 Місяць тому +14

    As a boy I always enjoyed Fife Robertson's reports on the BBC's Tonight prog.

    • @MrUniman609
      @MrUniman609 Місяць тому +3

      Me too, it's good to hear his voice again.

  • @AtheistOrphan
    @AtheistOrphan Місяць тому +18

    Credit to the always-brilliant Fife Robertson, the Scottish Jack Hargreaves. (Ask your grandparents).

    • @chriswalford4161
      @chriswalford4161 Місяць тому +2

      Fyfe over Jack any day.

    • @rogernevin7461
      @rogernevin7461 Місяць тому

      @@chriswalford4161 I always remember my mate watching Fife on TV while eating his dinner, he was reporting from a village in scotland, He came out with 'The Villagers have been drinking from the local Well for 40 years and it's Poisoned' ! My mates dinner was spat out across the room as he burst out laughing.

  • @burtlangoustine1
    @burtlangoustine1 Місяць тому +8

    As a Pirate, I shall be buryin all me Treasure there. Aargh.

  • @michaeledwards427
    @michaeledwards427 Місяць тому +5

    I laughed at the bit when the reporter said " who should know what is good for us than a government department" Did the government look after people better years ago or is this just 60's naivety?

  • @perpetualgrin5804
    @perpetualgrin5804 Місяць тому +12

    I hate islands of death.

  • @user-rm1xg9yg9p
    @user-rm1xg9yg9p Місяць тому +2

    Gruinard bay is stunning

  • @theshadow5800
    @theshadow5800 Місяць тому +4

    War makes such villains of us all.

  • @neilbain8736
    @neilbain8736 Місяць тому +2

    An interesting historical document from the time we can view with hindsight.
    3:31 The local suddenly blurts out 'Anthrax!' It's clearly unexpected as Fyfe Robinson had just started talking.
    I suspect the locals knew how to get a few bob out of it too.
    Fyfe Robinson and Cliff Hanley. Edinburgh vs Glasgow :)

  • @minty448
    @minty448 Місяць тому

    I remember him advertising Lawsons sausages.

  • @privatechannel8462
    @privatechannel8462 Місяць тому +4

    Mysterious, since when. Everyone knows of this place

    • @tnetroP
      @tnetroP Місяць тому

      I think the point is that back in 1942 and for a few decades the island and the experiments there were designated top secret. Yes we all know about it now. But back then it was still confidential.

  • @whitetroutchannel
    @whitetroutchannel Місяць тому +1

    hmmm, im from strangford lough in northern ireland, one of the islands (green island) was the most shelled island in the uk during the war (target practice) makes me wonder what they had in the shells

    • @burtlangoustine1
      @burtlangoustine1 Місяць тому +1

      I think I can help... if it's a Mussel Shell there'll be a Mussel in there. Oyster Shell = Oyster. Best ask Michelle. Michelle sells sea shells on the seashore, see. 👍

  • @LowerTheBoom
    @LowerTheBoom Місяць тому +17

    Now why does this sound familiar? 🤔
    "The government says that it wouldn't be in the 'public interest' to disclose the facts. And who should know better what is good for us than a government department?"

    • @AvocadoAfficionado
      @AvocadoAfficionado Місяць тому +7

      I mean, conspiracies are fun but governments are there to run the country. The state both preceded us and should outlast us, it's not there to serve your whims specifically.
      It sounds familiar because the government has kept the country going this long without your help. If you want to know how it all works move into politics the civil service.
      🤷

    • @christophercooper6731
      @christophercooper6731 Місяць тому +2

      Rather Trumptardzoidal, if you don't mind me saying so.

    • @davecooper3238
      @davecooper3238 Місяць тому +2

      Experiments carried out during WW2. Every reason to keep it under wraps.

    • @chriswalford4161
      @chriswalford4161 Місяць тому

      @@AvocadoAfficionado: You think that would deliver your answer?

  • @nickthomas8400
    @nickthomas8400 Місяць тому +1

    RAF also dropped anthrax bombs onto the burry estuary llanelli s wales and fired anthrax filled shells over onto llanrhidian sands - sheep and cattle penned there were buried along with everything else in a big hole in the beach it seems! (ref Hansard questins by Denzil Davies MP)

  • @billyponsonby
    @billyponsonby Місяць тому +6

    A well known testing location for chemical or biological weapons. Since cleaned up.

  • @savannahm.laurentian1286
    @savannahm.laurentian1286 Місяць тому +4

    I dunno. Ask American state of Hawaii about Kahaloowe(?). Believe there's a shoddy cement bunker in the South Pacific. Sigh.🙄

  • @matthewlawrenson7508
    @matthewlawrenson7508 Місяць тому

    Blofelds Island

  • @daniels.2720
    @daniels.2720 Місяць тому +5

    Me: don't eat ANYTHING out of that lake...

    • @AtheistOrphan
      @AtheistOrphan Місяць тому +3

      What lake? This is off the Scottish coast. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

  • @chriswalford4161
    @chriswalford4161 Місяць тому

    The decontamination was discussed in New Scientist in the 80s. I expect Tam Dalyell wrote about it too, in his column in that periodical, and probably more than once.

  • @grahampalmer9337
    @grahampalmer9337 Місяць тому +7

    Having looked at recent images of the island a property with garden & allotments are clearly visible at the east end. I can not imagine that would be so were there any great lingering risk.
    In the late middle ages the island was reported as being near totally forested. I wonder why that has not been restored, at least in part.

    • @AtheistOrphan
      @AtheistOrphan Місяць тому

      Easy answer, money!

    • @davecooper3238
      @davecooper3238 Місяць тому +2

      You have been looking at the wrong island.

    • @sichere
      @sichere Місяць тому +2

      There is nothing on that Island

  • @j.dunlop8295
    @j.dunlop8295 Місяць тому

    There is mo truths, just stories! A good one, get you free Ale, drinks! 😮 Wink, nudge and say no more?😅

  • @patreekotime4578
    @patreekotime4578 Місяць тому +5

    Downvoted for lack of context. As this video and description currently stand, they amount to fear mongering, conspiratorial sensationalism, and poor presentation. Really BBC, do better.

    • @grahampalmer9337
      @grahampalmer9337 Місяць тому +16

      This BBC broadcast was made in 1962. It's content & accuracy at that time was clearly relevant. The island is widely recorded as decontaminated & returned to the relations of the 1942 owners in the 1990's - after action by interested parties forced the British Government to face responsibility.

    • @patreekotime4578
      @patreekotime4578 Місяць тому +3

      ​@@grahampalmer9337 Ok. So why isn't any of the context in the description of the video? Because the way this is presented is as a "mystery" instead of with any historic or present day context. Which is yellow journalism... and I really expect better of the BBC. And if they have left it all vague specifically for the purpose of driving conversation, that's even worse.

    • @SueTube7
      @SueTube7 Місяць тому +7

      The moral of this story is: don't take anything you read or see on t'interweb at face value. Always look further into it. Quite a good motto for life generally

    • @huwprice881
      @huwprice881 Місяць тому +8

      It is an historical piece of journalism, made at a time when nothing was known of what had taken place there. I don't see any fear-mongering in the piece, but it's a fascinating look back at a time when respect for authority and science, and disrespect for the general population and the environment were more prevalent. 2 minutes online would give you all the context and information you could possibly wish for. I found it compelling, and all the better for being left unfettered by modern context and explanation.

    • @davecooper3238
      @davecooper3238 Місяць тому +7

      @@patreekotime4578 It is a 1962 report. Says so clearly at the top of the screen.

  • @grahampalmer9337
    @grahampalmer9337 Місяць тому +6

    Well. The 2nd interviewee said it clearly just after being pressured about knowing more than he was disclosing.
    Anthrax. ☠️
    B. A. Erlebacher has mentioned this in the comments & pointed towards a Wiki article that describes it. I'm sure there'll be other, more reliable(?), information sources available now somewhere.

    • @sichere
      @sichere Місяць тому

      Gruinard Island X-Base Anthrax Trials 1942-43