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| World War Two: Bomb manual for Churchill's 'secret army' | World War Two: Bomb manual for Churchill's 'secret army' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| They were Winston Churchill's "secret army", tasked with causing havoc behind enemy lines had the Nazis invaded during World War II. But keeping the identities of the Auxiliary Unit members a secret was crucial to their survival. One of the ways was by hiding bomb-making manuals in plain sight, disguised as old calendars and diaries. | They were Winston Churchill's "secret army", tasked with causing havoc behind enemy lines had the Nazis invaded during World War II. But keeping the identities of the Auxiliary Unit members a secret was crucial to their survival. One of the ways was by hiding bomb-making manuals in plain sight, disguised as old calendars and diaries. |
| Its cover promises agricultural fertilisers that "do their stuff unseen until you see results". | Its cover promises agricultural fertilisers that "do their stuff unseen until you see results". |
| But turn the page and a comprehensive guide on where to plant explosives and how to make your own bombs is revealed. | But turn the page and a comprehensive guide on where to plant explosives and how to make your own bombs is revealed. |
| The Countryman's Diary 1939 is one of two manuals being auctioned later which shed light on the training and abilities of the guerrilla units. | The Countryman's Diary 1939 is one of two manuals being auctioned later which shed light on the training and abilities of the guerrilla units. |
| Sponsored by Highworth's Fertilisers - a fictional company named after the Wiltshire town near where the units trained - the diary gives advice on how to set booby traps and kill German troops using household items. | |
| It was owned by Louis Pugh who commanded a unit in Tenterden, Kent. | It was owned by Louis Pugh who commanded a unit in Tenterden, Kent. |
| The units were formed in 1940 following the Dunkirk evacuation when Churchill became convinced that invasion was imminent. | The units were formed in 1940 following the Dunkirk evacuation when Churchill became convinced that invasion was imminent. |
| The cells, recruited mainly from men of the Home Guard, were trained to operate independently and sabotage German supply lines as they invaded. | The cells, recruited mainly from men of the Home Guard, were trained to operate independently and sabotage German supply lines as they invaded. |
| The trained killers - who would have become the British resistance movement - were also expected to carry out assassinations. | The trained killers - who would have become the British resistance movement - were also expected to carry out assassinations. |
| 'Killing through splinters' | 'Killing through splinters' |
| As the owner of a chemical factory, Pugh was deemed suitable to lead a unit that would specialise in using explosives. | As the owner of a chemical factory, Pugh was deemed suitable to lead a unit that would specialise in using explosives. |
| After training in Wiltshire, he recruited his unit from trusted local men, built a base at Gibbets Oak Farm and stocked it with weaponry. | After training in Wiltshire, he recruited his unit from trusted local men, built a base at Gibbets Oak Farm and stocked it with weaponry. |
| However, according to Jeannette May, senior valuer at Eastbourne Auction Rooms where the manuals are being sold, it had to be abandoned quickly. | However, according to Jeannette May, senior valuer at Eastbourne Auction Rooms where the manuals are being sold, it had to be abandoned quickly. |
| "It was discovered by a couple of courting lovers who went past and found it," she said. | "It was discovered by a couple of courting lovers who went past and found it," she said. |
| "Pugh took everything back to his house and stored it, while they built a second base. | "Pugh took everything back to his house and stored it, while they built a second base. |
| "However, he had a young family at the time and was really worried about the repercussions, for his family and village, if the Germans had invaded and discovered it. | "However, he had a young family at the time and was really worried about the repercussions, for his family and village, if the Germans had invaded and discovered it. |
| "It was estimated that the life expectancy for a member of one of the units - had the Germans landed - would've been 10 to 14 days." | "It was estimated that the life expectancy for a member of one of the units - had the Germans landed - would've been 10 to 14 days." |
| The manuals are being sold alongside photographs, three booby trap mechanisms and several medals. As the rarest items, the manuals are expected to fetch the most, between £500 and £800. | The manuals are being sold alongside photographs, three booby trap mechanisms and several medals. As the rarest items, the manuals are expected to fetch the most, between £500 and £800. |
| 'Secret until death' | 'Secret until death' |
| Mrs May said the mundane nature of the covers would have been thought about at some length. | Mrs May said the mundane nature of the covers would have been thought about at some length. |
| She said: "Perhaps they chose 1937 as the date as they imagine a German sifting through possessions in 1940 would ignore it." | She said: "Perhaps they chose 1937 as the date as they imagine a German sifting through possessions in 1940 would ignore it." |
| Inside, there is matter-of-fact advice on how to kill effectively using home made bombs in cocoa tins. | Inside, there is matter-of-fact advice on how to kill effectively using home made bombs in cocoa tins. |
| It reads: "The essential point is that for outdoor booby traps you must aim at killing by splinters - not by blast. Another very good method is to use an old motorcycle cylinder filled with gelignite. The fins fly very well." | It reads: "The essential point is that for outdoor booby traps you must aim at killing by splinters - not by blast. Another very good method is to use an old motorcycle cylinder filled with gelignite. The fins fly very well." |
| After the threat of invasion passed, the units were disbanded, with Pugh joining the RAF and becoming Flt Lt Pugh. He died in 1984. | After the threat of invasion passed, the units were disbanded, with Pugh joining the RAF and becoming Flt Lt Pugh. He died in 1984. |
| Mrs May said the items had been handed to the auction house by his stepson, but little else is known about his time with his unit. | Mrs May said the items had been handed to the auction house by his stepson, but little else is known about his time with his unit. |
| "Many of them kept it a secret until their deaths - they just wouldn't talk about it," she said. | "Many of them kept it a secret until their deaths - they just wouldn't talk about it," she said. |