Geffrey Bacon

Geffrey Bacon died from pneumonic plague on Wednesday 1 August 1962.

He had worked at the germ-war facility at Porton Down. He had been a senior experimental officer at the Microbiological Research Establishment for the previous fourteen years. His job was to study the cross-breeding of germs and how one generation of germs differed from another.

It was said that he had handled deadly germs at the facility, including smallpox and the plague.

He died following a sudden two day illness. It was thought that he might have picked up a germ whilst at his work. It was initially reported that it was thought he had died from a disease so rare that the doctors didn't even know if it was infectious.

His wife said:

It was reported that a scientist at the research facility said:

It was added that precautions were limited until it was known what germ might have caused his death.

It was said that in the weeks before his death that he had been handling germs, most of them being harmless, in his own laboratory and in the section where experimental animals were housed.

He had lived at Hop Gardens, Whiteparish, near Salisbury and had two daughters.

A war office spokesman said that Geffrey Bacon died:

The War Office were reported to have emphasised that research at Porton Down was only into 'defensive measures' against biological warfare. It was stated that extraordinary safety precautions were taken at the facility and that every corner of the laboratories, hidden among farmlands behind red 'danger' notices, were regularly searched for stray germs, it being added that all the air and water was filtered before it left the building.

It was said that scientists handling the most dangerous germs used breathing masks and protective clothing and had a shower and changed their clothes completely before leaving. It was also noted that there was a ban on leaving litter, even toffee papers, about, in case they harboured strange germs.

It was also noted that staff at the facility were inoculated against up to ten diseases, and that their families were often also protected.

The director of the establishment said: