The time Britain almost poisoned an entire country.

Swamped by the chaos of everyday life and yearning for solitary moments in nature? Consider embarking on an extraordinary adventure to Gruinard Island. Nestled off the northwest coast of Scotland, this remote landmass remains untouched by modern conveniences like Wi-Fi, running water, and reliable shelter. Surrounded by the icy waters of the North Atlantic, you can even indulge your passion for cold water swimming. But before you grab your Speedos, don't forget to pack your hazmat suit and prioritize vaccinations safeguarding you against deadly bacterial infections. And don't be alarmed if the locals refer to it as the "Island of Death." According to the British Ministry of Defense, it's now deemed safe to visit, though it wasn't always so.

For fifty solid years, starting in the early 1940s, this seemingly insignificant two-square-kilometer island was one of the most dangerous places on Earth, thanks to an astonishing covert operation during World War II known as "Operation Vegetarian." Contrary to its seemingly herbivorous name, it had nothing to do with assaulting plant-eating creatures but was rather an audacious campaign against carnivores, specifically the Germans. As a result, it stands as one of the most misnamed military endeavors of the 20th century, ranking alongside operations with equally puzzling names such as "Operation Toenails" (Allied troops' invasion of New Georgia), "Operations Red Bean and Frequent Wind" (with mysteries of their own), and "Operations Beaver Cage and Viking Snatch" (the less said, the better).

Operation Vegetarian aimed to sabotage the German food supply by contaminating cattle with Anthrax, a horrifying bacterial infection (not the American metal band, though they probably wouldn't appreciate the association). The mastermind behind this hair-raising plan was British scientist Paul Fields, a distinguished biology expert, who, three years into WWII, was tasked with concocting a biological weapon that could turn the tide against Hitler. His solution was deceptively simple: disperse millions of Anthrax-laced linseed cakes across Germany during the summer when the nation's cattle would be out grazing. If all went as planned, the cattle would consume the cakes and become infected, eventually infecting the people who ate the meat. Alternatively, if the cattle rejected the taste of Anthrax, the cakes would dissolve during rainfall, poisoning the grass that the cows would consume later. Either way, the outcome would be disastrous for the bovine population.

This eerily Bond-villain-like scheme, however, coincided with another horrific Allied operation—the infamous bombing of Dresden, Germany. Although resulting in massive civilian casualties, the Dresden bombing, like Operation Vegetarian, struck at the heart of German wealth, as the city was a repository of cultural treasures and artworks. Even during the war, the German art market experienced a boom, with art deemed a stable investment. Fast forward to the 21st century, where art remains an attractive investment, but not just for the uber-rich, thanks to our sponsor, Masterworks. They've democratized the art market, selling $45 million worth of art last year, providing profits to everyday investors like you and me.

The bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which causes Anthrax, can be inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin, leading to sepsis, multiple organ failure, and other severe complications. The British planned to use gastrointestinal Anthrax, a less lethal but still deadly form, to target Germany's beef cattle, potentially infecting humans who consumed the meat. Regardless of the strategy's pragmatism, it would have caused widespread chaos and famine, diverting Nazi resources and attention away from Europe's conquest.

Unfortunately, Operation Vegetarian was an ethical catastrophe, as controlling the spread of Anthrax would have been impossible. The contagion would have infected not only the targeted cattle but also countless other animals, humans, and the environment, potentially killing millions and rendering Germany uninhabitable for generations. The British authorities were unaware of Anthrax's full potential at the time, requiring a remote, unoccupied area for experimentation. Hence, Gruinard Island became the unwitting location for these deadly tests.

In 1942, scientists from the Porton Down government biochemical research lab in Southern England descended upon Gruinard Island, accompanied by 60 sheep. In one test, a modified plane dropped an Anthrax bomb on the island, killing all 60 sheep and even some animals on the nearby mainland. Subsequent tests with Anthrax cake bombs led to further unintended contamination, as a contaminated sheep carcass washed ashore, sparking an Anthrax outbreak among local animals and livestock. The government attributed the incident to a passing Greek ship, using generous bribes to compensate farmers for their losses.

Gruinard Island transformed into a forbidding hellscape, exuding death upon any who dared to set foot on its shores. Yet, instead of restoring the once-pristine island through a decontamination program, the British authorities erected a no-entry sign and abandoned it. The disastrous tests didn't deter Operation Vegetarian, as the British military ramped up production, stockpiling 5 million Anthrax cakes for distribution across Germany. But by 1944, the need for unleashing a deadly pathogen upon an entire country diminished, thanks to the Allied invasion of Normandy and the Nazis' retreat.

With Europe on the road to liberation, Operation Vegetarian was abandoned, and the 5 million Anthrax cakes were incinerated, along with the taxpayers' money invested in them. Thankfully, this plan of unspeakable cruelty, capable of shifting the boundaries of wartime ethics, never came to fruition. Moreover, the British military remained largely unaware of the long-lasting effects of Anthrax. It wasn't until they returned to Gruinard Island after the war that they discovered Anthrax spores' resilience, rendering decontamination efforts futile.

Public awareness of the disaster on Gruinard Island arose in 1980 when the Ministry of Defense declassified a video showing the experiments conducted almost 40 years earlier. An outbreak of Anthrax could have occurred had it not been for a small group of revolutionaries known as the "Dark Harvest," part of the Scottish Citizen Army. They demanded attention from the government, threatening to disseminate over 100 kilograms of poisoned soil strategically across the country. A package of Anthrax soil was found at the Porton Down facility, seemingly confirming the rebels' capabilities.

Panicked by the Dark Harvest's actions, the British government finally took action in 1986. The most contaminated topsoil was removed, and the remaining soil was treated with a mixture of seawater and formaldehyde. By 1990, the quarantine was lifted, and Gruinard Island was deemed "safe-ish" to visit. In 1972, the Biological Weapons Convention was established, prohibiting countries from developing, producing, stockpiling, or using biological weapons. This international agreement has made it illegal for governments and militaries to experiment with deadly substances like Anthrax.

As we learn from monstrous mistakes like Operation Vegetarian, our understanding of the repercussions of mass destruction grows, pointing us towards a more peaceful world for both mankind and our precious bovines. Thanks for reading!