There are many chemistry books available detailing the properties and nature of the elements including elemental phosphorus. Some of the more interesting science based articles tend to be harder to find, and are usually older in nature. Such sources give a less biased corporate presentation of the element and its financial uses for companies like Albright and Wilson to the consumer. We do know however that at the outbreak of World War Two, Albright and Wilson were the only UK producers of the chemical.

Before the horrors of that war, an excellent article can be found in a periodical entitled “The Popular Science Educator”, edited by Charles Ray. A range of scientific articles, well written and brilliantly illustrated appear. Number 21 in the series published February 20th 1936 ,that we have sourced contains three pages of phosphorus and we have scanned them below.

Perhaps the most telling revelation in the article is the name of the phosphate ore used to produce the non natural white phosphorus.

“THE NAME APARTITE COMES FROM A GREEK WORD MEANING “TO DECEIVE” AND WAS GIVEN IN ALLUSION TO THE MISTAKE WHICH EARLY MINEROLOGISTS OFTEN MADE RESPECTING THE NATURE OF SOME OF ITS VARIETIES.”

Some stand out quotes are revealed below, and we give some comment on them in context to events that would unfold over the next 70 years.

The article presents the natural uptake and need for plants and animals to receive phosphorus through its related compounds, but makes a very clear distinction concerning the elemental form.

“WHITE PHOSPHORUS IS INSOLUBLE IN WATER, BUT IT WILL DISSOLVE READILY IN ABOUT FOUR PARTS BY WEIGHT OF CARBON DISULPHIDE, AND IT ALSO DISSOLVES IN ETHER, BENZENE AND TURPENTINE.

FROM SUCH A SOLUTION IT CRYSTALLISES AND IS THEN SOMETIMES CALLED OCTAHEDRAL PHOSPHORUS. IN THIS FORM IT IS EXCEEDINGLY POISONOUS, LESS THAN 0.15 OF A GRAMME BEING A FATAL QUANTITY.”

It should be pointed out that just 5 years later, Albright and Wilson would be producing such a mixture using dissolved p4 in benzene- over 7 million glass bottles full otherwise known as AW BOMBS.

“WHITE OR COLOURLESS PHOSPHORUS IS VERY FLAMMABLE AND WILL BURN AT ABOUT THE TEMPERATURE OF THE HUMAN BODY. THAT IS WHY IT HAS TO BE PRESERVED AND HANDLED UNDER WATER, AND IT MUST NEVER BE TOUCHED WITH THE HANDS.”

The different varieties of phosphorus are outlined, as well as the process of white phosphorus production, from the old way using animal bones to the “new” method of the electric furnace, that would be used for war purposes at Oldbury and thereafter. We have looked at this method from a 1950’s Albright and Wilson pamphlet HERE.

The final page does appear to be very much early PR of the match industry, and one wonders to what extent Charles Ray may have been involved or influenced by this emerging corporate entity. Talk of match factories in “civilised countries” is bizarrely juxtaposed with the revelation

“Phosphorus is much used as a poison for vermin, and it is also employed in the preparation of bronzes and for hardening metals.”

It would be another 27 years before this uncivilised use , very often used for murderous purposes was banned under the Animal Cruel Poisons Regulations. We have looked at this HERE.

“DURING THE GREAT WAR IT WAS MUCH EMPLOYED IN INCENDIARY BOMBS AND GRENADES, AND IT WAS ALSO USED FOR MAKING SMOKE-SCREENS.”

This is a chillingly ominous quote, and the author could perhaps not envisage such dramatic irony of what was to come. The production of white phosphorus during the second world war would eclipse anything on the scale of World War One.

In conclusion take an innocuous looking rock and adapt it into a weapon of war, shaped by furnaces of man made design to destroy life. If phosphorus was needed by animals to survive, the elemental form is not necessary at all for man’s survival- except to the corporate industry like Albright and Wilson that profited from war.

Clouds of phosphorus pentoxide disguising the burning unnatural element are also a metaphor for the dissembling political, military and corporate protection of producing this vile man made creation of pure evil. Hiding it under water or sand only mirrors their blind faith in believing that it is “safe” by diverting it out of public gaze.

Of those who have deceived to protect this element, and more perversely the economic prosperity of producing it, one wonders if their graves are lead lined and filled with sand. It would be a fitting epitaph to be buried like white phosphorus if they were.

Of late, time has had to be diverted away from matters Rattlechain and everything else, including rescuing birds due to Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council’s clandestine cull of Canada geese.

No sooner were Rhodia supposedly trying to prevent any more birds being poisoned by white phosphorus, so SMBC were plotting to do away with several dozen from Victoria park Tipton, and Dartmouth Park West Bromwich. It has not gone unnoticed that these two events may well be related, if not directly then indirectly, as a result of the revelation that birds from Rattlechain could quite easily fly out having swallowed a sub- lethal amount of P4 and then die outside of the site. Perhaps this rattled a few at Sandwell Council, and they wanted rid. It would also have got rid of a few birds being found poisoned during the dredging phase of the 2013 works. Conspiracy theory- you decide?

A dead goose at Rattlechain lagoon and its pining mate. This goose was found to have ingested toxic white phosphorus in the sediment and been “systemically poisoned” by the chemical company waste.

In any case we continue to campaign for all wildfowl and so enlisted the help of “The park knight” aka Gooseman and submitted a petition to SMBC calling for scrutiny and also a “NEVER AGAIN”.

Gooseman was quite curious when he learned of the issues at Rattlechain, and so during a night flight decided to pay John’s Lane a visit. The dark Lane was deserted, but a ghostly figure was on hand to point him in the right direction. He would have been lost if not for one of the local one headed residents, not yet glowing in the dark.

He continued on dipping under the yellow barrier, no mean feat for a 7′ tall goose.

He observed the hazardous waste sign and the warnings about the dangers that the site posed, but unlike his fallen comrades he was able to read English.

The metal railings clanked in the night wind, as above the razor wire encampment warned of “DANGER”.

I’m not going in there thought Gooseman. He said a little prayer and lit a candle to remember those that had died. He also noted the company responsible for the massacre of wildlife at the site. They accepted “NO RESPONSIBILITY” for trespassers, including birds like himself.

There has been of late very little activity at Rattlechain lagoon. Certainly the birds appear to have deserted the site almost entirely. This makes the “environmental improvements” touted by those undertaking work at the site which commenced nearly two years ago ring rather hollow.

This week however saw the return of some of Rhodia/Solvays contractors, obviously carrying out another monitoring exercise.

Putting the boat out

As the plucky Heyrman trio went out towards the beach area, ERM guy did another firework code experiment at the smaller lagoon. Funny now how they are monitoring for release of dangerous chemicals rather looking for the ones in the sediment that their sponsors were so  deft at denying were in their toxic soup and poisoning birds.

When we first drew attention to the bird mortality issue at the site, Rhodia were more interested in “bird deterrence”- some of the wild options for this are shown below from this report.

In this subsequent “bird deterrence” cunningly disguised as “environmental improvements” by their other contractor, they do appear to have at last succeeded, so well done- congratulations- though we don’t know what chemicals they may have added to the bathwater to put wildfowl off staying there- would not be surprised at all- they added aluminium sulphate previously to lower the ph allegedly.

So this blog is officially now 2 years old, and will continue into the foreseeable future, learning and uncovering the deceptions of the past. The names on the gates may change, but the filthy stench of Albright and Wilson continues to be stored under the water, and even sometimes beyond its boundaries.

There has been much rot written and broadcast about remembering the 1st world war, for some reason due to the roundness of the year 100.  The start of the hostilities between a group of aristocrats belonging to the same royal dynasty may well be a memorable marker in history, but we have been bombarded with programmes, ceramic poppies and advert tales galore and we are only in year one of the commemorations. Most of it is in aid of selling something on the back of it, and quite frankly I’ve had enough of “remembrance” , in fact it’s starting to piss me off totally.

A media and political elite appear to cast anyone who does not support tales of warmongering as unpatriotic , and their mantra now borders on religious fervour to the point of crafted ceremony involving marches, parades, unveiling of plaques, planting of trees, remembrance services- no longer a twice a year event, but a 24/7 365 day a year  industry. Always the victors get to write the story of the war, most often for politicians to con young men into fighting their foreign wars under the recruiting sergeant  “HERO”.

I have looked on this blog about much of the trite rubbish written by Albright and Wilson apologists concerning their Second World war record, and exaggerated importance, but there is another whole earlier chapter in the history of the company concerning their production of weapons in the 1914-18 conflict. We will look at this in the future perhaps.

The 1st world war was a waste of lives, and  was nothing to do with freedom nor fighting tyranny- that is the victor’s narrative.  In the aftermath, the victims continued after the hostilities ended- shell shock , gassed victims and even those shot for cowardice, totally forgotten till well into the 20th Century. But there were other victims and haunting stories of those who never went to war at all, but for whom the war came home to kill and maim them.  One event in the Tividale area, is less well known or commemorated than tales of “packing up your troubles in your old kit bag” and rows of indistinguishable gravestones.

The best telling of it can be read HERE  amongst many other industrial accidents in the black country area. But this was not really an “accident” at all but manslaughter on the part of John Knowles, whose enterprise of avarice saw young girls employed to break up wartime rifle ammunition. The pollution aspect of this was bad enough, that  individuals were exposed to such toxic materials without any ppe, but the notion that the spent material was just dumped into the canal beggars belief. One wonders if some of it may well still be there!

This conman and child killer was one of many rogues that exploited child labour. 19 died that day in a massive explosion, the war had returned from the fields of France and rocked Tividale and Tipton, robbing its youth. A blue plaque in Groveland Road marks the area near to the factory and a memorial in Tipton Cemetery records the loss and the ages of those that perished.

2 Kings 4:26

Run now, I pray thee, to meet her, and say unto her, Is it well with thee? is it well with thy husband? is it well with the child? And she answered, It is well.

For this article I am indebted to information from Roy Martin, canal enthusiast. One of the most prominent features of the Birmingham Canal Navigations on which much of the local industry including that at Rattlechain “prospered” is The Netherton Tunnel. A long straight tunnel was opened in 1858, between The Old Mainline and the Rowley Hills and The Dudley No. 2 Canal at Windmill End Junction. Horse powered towed boats could not be accommodated by the earlier over used Dudley Tunnel, and the Lapal Tunnel at Halesowen which became  traffic bottleneck, where the boater had to “leg it” along the narrow dark walls.

The new tunnel was to be 2768 meters in length, with a two sided towpath capable of allowing horses access from both sides.

When taking a walk through here for the first time many years ago, I made the mistake of not taking a torch. A narrow pinprick of light was visible from the Northern End towards Tividale as I set off on foot not knowing what to expect from Netherton.

One of the most eerie aspects as I clung for dear life to the handrail were the seven ventilation shafts , like prison vents of light tempting a view to what lay above. What lay on the towpath was more troublesome, ankle deep pockets of water, especially around the middle, and a dip I the brickwork where I nearly went flying. It was 50 minutes I will never forget as I made it out to the other side relieved.

Many, many visits later on bike and I can get through there in around 20 minutes, but a more careful examination of the signs in and around the tunnel show how over time it has had to be repaired and reconstructed in nature, showing how frail Man’s inventions can be to the passing of time.

Each tells a story of their own, markers in time in one place, and the many who followed in the footsteps of those who died constructing it. Nine men died completing it and many more were injured. The latest in Winter 2012/13 saw it closed for several weeks, where massive bolts appear to have been fixed into the walls to stop subsidence.

A boat bollinder chugs along walking towards the Tividale end

Light at the end of the tunnel.

For one last time– Let’s open door 24.

And so the toxic legacy of Albright and Wilson persists. These two toxic santas went down the chimney and landed in the lake of fire. Rattlechain lagoon is just one of several Hell sites that their company left behind. Those who followed their legacy as apologists and spindoctors and liars will one day hopefully join them there.

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8-21:8 King James Version.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Let’s open door 23

The closure plan for the rattlechain lagoon was accepted by the Environment agency, where in a freedom of information request it was revealed that the company name had now changed to “Rhodia Limited” from Rhodia UK Limited. The permit for the site was also supplied – copy attached.”

Let’s open door 22

The 2013 cover up works involved levelling the sediment, reconstructing the North and East embankments and then overlaying this below water with a “geotextile membrane”, a sort of permeable plastic sheet with a life of an alleged 25 years. On top of this they dumped sand leaving a much shallower pool than before. Nothing was done about capping the smaller lagoon however, and this continues to be a mystery as to why this was not undertaken- when the smaller lagoon was after all part of the original dumping ground single pool containing white phosphorus.

Let’s open door 21

The cover up works? In order to fulfil their closure plan for the site, Rhodia hired consultants ERM to undertake an “improvement works”  in 2013- all without really admitting that all the rubbish they had told previously about the site being “harmless” wasn’t.

This firstly involved removal of the iconic waste pipes– a visual distraction in that the waste that it had pumped was still below the water line.

Let’s open door 20

A “Mere” cat sitting on a waste discharge pipe. With bird deaths, fires, and our decisive Freedom of information requests revealing unpublished information of concern, people on the Callaghan Drive estate were concerned at what they had moved next to. This along with necessary legal management of the site prompted Rhodia to undertake a PR exercise into “human health“- trying to draw attention away from the now proven source of the bird deaths- white phosphorus.

This exercise consisted of a sham of a group being set up, together with a report full of holes and inconsistencies like the ones that had gone before.