Churchill's "Secret Army" Saboteurs Bunker Discovered

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

"It was in these desperate days Churchill instigated a highly secret organisation, the Auxiliary Units, that in the event of a successful German invasion, would have made up the British resistance. This force was formed of civilian volunteers who were outside the ages for call up to the regular forces or were in reserved occupations.

 

They were recruited the length of the country in coastal counties, with around 3,500 joining. Such was the secrecy associated with the force that all of them signed the Official Secrets Act, not telling their closest families and friends what they were up to."

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Churchills-Secret-Army/

 

"Forestry workers were felling trees in southern Scotland when they noticed something peculiar among the roots and bracken: An iron door. It turns out the team had accidentally discovered a lost WWII-era bunker, built to house one of Great Britain's most secretive — and suicidal — military forces"

https://www.livescience.com/secret-auxiliary-unit-bunker.html

 

"From records, we know that around seven men used this bunker and at the time were armed with revolvers, submachine guns, a sniper's rifle and explosives."

 

"The bunker was built to a standard design - measuring about seven metres (23ft) by three metres (10ft) - and accessed via a hatch at the end of a narrow passage.

An escape hatch was located at the other end of the bunker.

It would have contained bunk beds, a table and cooking stove and all the equipment needed - but none of those materials survived.

It is thought some broken timbers found on the floor could be from bed frames.

FLS said that due to the rarity and importance of the site as well as health and safety reasons the bunker was not open to the public and its exact location would be kept secret.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-51800809?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.com/news/science_and_environment&link_location=live-reporting-story

 

Thompson Submachine Guns & Sykes-Fairbairn 2nd Pattern

 

Patrol In Hampshire

 

Edited March 15, 2020 by Arthur Fliegenheimer

[Ivan]

Do some of those fellows in pic have MKIII STENs w/ wooden stocks ?

Great post, thanks !

[jim c 351]

Arthur,

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

Hopefully, someday a bunker will be discover with a more intact interior. And maybe a STEN gun or two.

Jim C

[giantpanda4]

Thanks! Very interesting!

[rpbcps]

Arthur,

Thanks for posting that.

There is a website dedicated to the Auxillary Units, I discovered years ago.

 

https://www.coleshillhouse.com/the-auxiliary-units-history.php

 

Stay safe

Richard

[john]

Yes, thanks Arthur.

The second picture has a lot if Commando gear, both issued and improvised. Verrrrrry interesting, especially the first model Sykes-Fairbairn dagger. I used to collect Commando and Home Guard gear until it got way too expensive a few years ago!

 

john

[Frank Iannamico]

I recently watched a documentary about the "Secret Army" on Prime video. They showed some of the old bunkers etc. and interviews.

 

Secret Army

Season 1

(13)201013+

Britain stood alone in 1940, facing the might of the all-conquering German forces, but Winston Churchill had an idea. He set up an Underground Army, of farmers, teenagers, women and veterans from WW1, who in the event of an invasion would conceal themselves in deep bunkers, to emerge and kill the invaders as they swept inland. Follow the story of the Secret Army, through the words of its members.

[Tiz]

I recently watched a documentary about the "Secret Army" on Prime video. They showed some of the old bunkers etc. and interviews.

 

Secret Army

Season 1

(13)201013+

Britain stood alone in 1940, facing the might of the all-conquering German forces, but Winston Churchill had an idea. He set up an Underground Army, of farmers, teenagers, women and veterans from WW1, who in the event of an invasion would conceal themselves in deep bunkers, to emerge and kill the invaders as they swept inland. Follow the story of the Secret Army, through the words of its members.

Frank,

Thanks for the heads up. I started watching it and its very interesting. I did not even know it was on Prime.

[rpbcps]

Frank,

Thanks for the link, it is appreciated.

 

Now that we are on 'lockdown' in the UK due to coronavirus, I have more time on my hands to watch that series, and I noted Amazon offer a trail 30 day trial of Prime free of charge... so nothing lost.

 

Stay safe

Richard

[Arthur Fliegenheimer]

Now that we are on 'lockdown' in the UK due to coronavirus,

 

Stay safe

Richard

 

Richard,

How does this China Satan Bug compare with the 1952 Great Smog of London that killed 12,000?

[rpbcps]

Arthur,

We are not the same nation we were back then, it is only the older generation which still has the 'Dunkirk spirit', the majority of the younger generations are of the 'me' mentality, who appear to be very selfish and self centred, with some exceptions obviously, but that is why we have food shortages etc. due to panic buying etc. Perhaps the press and TV stations are also playing their part in creating the situation too, with non-stop pessimistic reporting of the situation.

 

12,000 deaths in a two month period in 1952, and so far, 52 dead in London from Coronavirus, in a 3 weeks period, it is reported most of the casualties had underlying health conditions.

 

It is the rest of western Europe that appears to be suffering more than the UK from this pandemic, especially Italy and Spain, so far.

 

Stay safe

Richard

[m3bobby]

Do some of those fellows in pic have MKIII STENs w/ wooden stocks ?

Great post, thanks !

They could be Mk3 or Mk1* STENs and the butts look to be home made

[rpbcps]

Photo of Cottingham North Auxiliary unit patrol, with TSMG in front.

 

 

stay safe

Richard

 

 

[rpbcps]

Two more photographs i have found on the web, too much time on my hands now I am on lockdown awaiting surgery, of the Sandford Levvy Auxiliary Unit posting with TSMG's. One TSMG is almost lost in the first photo, held by soldier behind cabin of truck.

 

 

 

 

 

Stay safe

Richard

Edited March 30, 2020 by rpbcps

[rpbcps]

Two more pictures found of Auxillary Unit Patrols with TSMGs:

 

Little Glemham Auxiliary Unit.

 

Cranmore Auxiliary Scout section.

Many members of these units went on to join the SAS in 1944 and were dropped behind enemy lines on D Day, in what was named Operation Loyton to meet up with the French resistance, destroy train lines and German communications, and generally rasie havoc.

 

The operation was not a big success however, due to the heavy loss of personel, out of a total of 82 SAS troopers that parachuted into France, only 46 came out alive. A heavy toll for a specialised small unit.

 

Stay safe

Richard