The Biology Department at Porton Down, established in 1940, originated under the direction of a pathologist tasked with evaluating the defensive implications of bacterial warfare. Tasked with managing a team of microbiologists, this operative oversaw the development of biological agents, including the production of anthrax-impregnated cattle cakes and the successful deployment of the world's first working anthrax bomb in 1942.
Academic Foundation
Born in Kensington, London, in 1882, Paul Gordon Fildes pursued education at Winchester College before attending Trinity College, Cambridge. He earned an MB BCh degree, moving from general surgery into the specialized fields of pathology and microbiology. His early professional appointments included a role as an assistant bacteriologist at the London Hospital, followed by a tenure at the Middlesex Hospital starting in 1934.
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During the First World War, Fildes served as a lieutenant-commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar between 1915 and 1919. In 1919, he was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. During the Second World War, he conducted scientific research for the Medical Research Council and assisted Donald D. Woods in 1940 with research into the mechanisms of sulphonamides.
Biological Weaponry and Porton Down
Fildes led the Biology Department at Porton Down, investigating both defensive and offensive capabilities regarding biological weapons. This included study into botulinum toxin and anthrax. He oversaw experiments at Gruinard Island in 1942, performing necropsies on sheep to confirm anthrax exposure. Furthermore, he claimed involvement in providing modified No. 73 grenades containing botulin toxin for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague, though the assertion remains debated among historians.
Post-war Research and Recognition
Upon the conclusion of the war, Fildes transferred leadership of the Porton Down department to David Henderson. He received a knighthood in the 1946 New Year Honours. Later, he joined the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology in Oxford, collaborating with Sir Howard Florey to investigate bacteriophage multiplication. Throughout his career, he authored studies on syphilis and haemophilia, earning him the Royal Medal in 1953, the Leeuwenhoek Lecture in 1950, and the Copley Medal in 1963.
Fast facts
- Born: 1882, London
- Died: 1971, London
- Education: Winchester College, Trinity College
- Key Award: Copley Medal (1963)
- Wartime Role: Head of Biology Department, Porton Down
- Knighthood: 1946
- Fellowship: Royal Society (1934)
- Occupations: Surgeon, Pathologist, Microbiologist
Questions readers ask
Did Paul Fildes definitely participate in the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich?
Fildes claimed he provided botulin-filled grenades for the mission, but his account is met with skepticism due to the lack of evidence that Heydrich suffered from botulism symptoms.
What were the primary biological subjects of Fildes' research during World War II?
He led research into defensive and offensive uses of anthrax and botulinum toxin, including the development of the first working anthrax bomb in 1942.
Achievements
- Fellow of the Royal Society
- Officer of the Order of the British Empire — 1919
- Copley Medal — 1963
- Royal Medal — 1953
- Knight Bachelor
- Held posts at University of Cambridge
