A SECRET underground Second World War bunker used by an elite military unit has been unearthed by forestry workers during a tree-felling operation in Scotland.
The “rare” bunker is thought to have been used as an operational base for the so-called Churchill’s Secret Army – the Auxiliary Units of the Home Guard.
They were a resistance network of highly trained volunteers prepared to be Britain’s last-ditch line of defence in the event of a German invasion.
Seven men are known to have used the bunker, which is just three metres wide and seven metres in length, in Craigielands Forest, near Moffat in Dumfries and Galloway, during the war. Auxiliary Units were specially trained, highly secret units created by the British Government.
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The bunker was discovered by Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) survey technician Kit Rodger, who used to play in it as a child.
It was missing from records, but Rodger found it when he stumbled across a shallow trench while working in the forest, which led to the door. Rodger said: “It was 40 years ago, so I only had vague memories of the location and the vicinity had changed a lot and was overgrown with bracken.
“However, I stumbled across a shallow trench and this led to the bunker door.”
The bunker would have contained bunk beds, a table and cooking stove and military equipment needed, according to FLS.
None of the materials survived, but broken timbers found on the floor may be the remains of the original timber bed frames. The rarity and importance of the site means it is not open to the public, and its exact location will remain a secret.
FLS archaeologist Matt Ritchie said: “This discovery gives us an insight into one of the most secretive units that were operating during the Second World War. It’s quite rare to find these bunkers as their locations were always kept secret – most were buried or lost.
“From records, we know that around seven men used this bunker and at the time were armed with revolvers, Sten guns submachine guns, a sniper’s rifle and explosives.”
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