Handwritten notes reveal Churchill's penicillin concern ahead of D-Day
Summary
New documents show that during World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was worried about not having enough penicillin for soldiers injured in the D-Day invasion. Penicillin, discovered by Alexander Fleming in London, was initially difficult to produce in large quantities, so British scientists worked with U.S. companies to increase production. Churchill was frustrated that the U.S. produced more, even though penicillin was a British invention.Key Facts
- Winston Churchill wanted to secure penicillin to treat soldiers expected to be injured during the D-Day invasion.
- Penicillin is an antibiotic, a type of drug that fights bacterial infections.
- Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in London in 1928.
- An Oxford team led by Howard Florey conducted the first successful trials of penicillin.
- The U.S. produced more penicillin than the UK during World War II, causing UK frustration.
- Less than two weeks before D-Day, enough penicillin was obtained mostly from the U.S. but only for military use.
- Penicillin became widely available to the public in 1946, after the war.
- A 1944 telegram showed a request for penicillin for a child was denied because supplies were reserved for military use.
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