Churchill's Greatest Secret

"Churchill's Greatest Secret" is a fascinating account of Winston Churchill's hidden history of creating atomic bombs during World War II. Author E. Keith Binnersley shares a thoroughly researched exploration of how Churchill was able to gain access to enough fissionable uranium to make several atomic bombs before the USA's Manhattan Program began. He dives into the complexities of Churchill's involvement with atomic weapons and how he eventually gained control of the United States' atomic bomb. Connecting the dots he identifies the real reason the USA cut off oil supplies to Japan thereby precipitating the war, It was the fear that Japan would beat the USA in the race to the atomic bomb.

"Churchill's Greatest Secret" is a fascinating account of Winston Churchill's hidden history of creating atomic bombs during World War II. Author E. Keith Binnersley shares a thoroughly researched exploration of how Churchill was able to gain access to enough fissionable uranium to make several atomic bombs before the USA's Manhattan Program began. He dives into the complexities of Churchill's involvement with atomic weapons and how he eventually gained control of the United States' atomic bomb. Although this book explores the history of scientific concepts, it's not necessary to have a scientific background to follow the gist of the story. This book's original inspiration came from the author recent discovery that by November 1943, a chemical company in England, known then as ICI, had manufactured 2965 lbs. of a metal they code named "massive metal". Extensive searches by the author established that "massive metal" was metal enriched with the uranium isotope 235U, the active ingredient in the atomic bomb dropped by the USA on Hiroshima in August 1945. An important historical discovery, this is enough material to create several atomic bombs. There is no mention of this in any previous narrative of World War II. This groundbreaking book explains how this came to be and its impact on the events of the war. Until now, all was lost to history, it truly was "Churchill's Greatest Secret". Connecting the dots he identifies the real reason the USA cut off oil supplies to Japan thereby precipitating the war. It was the fear that Japan would beat the USA in the race to the atomic bomb.

E. Keith Binnersley was born and raised in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, England. He was the eldest son of a policeman. He won a scholarship to the local Grammar School at age 11. Graduating in 1951, Keith became an Indentured Pupil Gas Engineer with the local gas board. After attending the local Technical College for two years, he was awarded a Technical State Scholarship that paved the way for an education at any University in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the Scholarship paid 217 pounds a year subsistence allowance. That year there were 300 Technical State Scholarships awarded throughout the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth of Nations. Needing at least two subjects at the Advanced Level of the General Certificate of Education to enter any University the author completed these requirements in one year part time. Students who continued in Grammar School for two years completed the courses studying full time. The author was fortunate to gain admission to a 4-year Honors Course in Chemical Engineering at the University of Leeds in Yorkshire graduating with first class honors in 1958. Keith completed an advanced graduate course receiving a Ph D in December 1961. Promptly emigrating to the USA, Keith joined the Engineering Research Division of a Fortune 100 chemical company in Wilmington Delaware. Rising through the ranks he was appointed Senior Research Supervisor in 1969 leading a group of 16 PhD engineers and technicians. This lasted until December 1974 and Keith became a Senior Research Associate. Keith retired in 1968 with 6 patents to his name in fiber reinforced composites and application of finish liquids to fibers. During a visit to family and friends in England Keith ventured to research the United Kingdom's World War 2 atomic bomb project code named "Tube Alloys". Searching the UK National Archives in Kew, West London. Keith discovered documents that were classified as "Top Secret". They establish beyond any doubt that the UK made fissionable uranium in quantities sufficient for several atomic bombs before the Manhattan Project had started. This startling discovery has been lost to history and is truly "Churchill's Greatest Secret". The world needs to know this, and Keith set out to create a narrative, based on the documents discovered in the Archives, to explain how this came about. Sources for the book include the UK Archives in Kew, London, (two visits); the USA Archives in Bethesda, Maryland; Hagley Museum in Wilmington Delaware and personal contacts. The author lives in Wilmington, Delaware and is married with four children and seven grandchildren, all living within a few miles of him and his wife.