Loss of Churchill's 'secrets'

Dramatic images of Winston Churchill's secret wartime life in the underground Cabinet War Rooms could be lost to the nation, after their owner suddenly decided to auction them all next month.

The collection of items, never before seen by the public, belonged to George Rance, a former Rifle Brigade sergeant who was the Office of Works representative in the bunker underneath Whitehall, and became Churchill's right-hand man as custodian of the Cabinet War Rooms.

The items include rare photographs of the wartime leader at his desk, images of his underground bedroom and dining room, and views of the map rooms from where he masterminded the defence of Britain.

Mr Rance's elderly son, also called George, has decided to auction them at Phillips on 15 June. As a result, the Imperial War Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, which have been unable to view the collection, will be constrained in their efforts to acquire any items.

Phil Reed of the Cabinet War Rooms said he had been talking to Mr Rance, who lives in Norfolk, for several months. "I offered to go to his home to view the collection, but I never got a positive response. I also asked Mr Rance to consider donating something to the War Rooms to commemorate his father, and he said he would think about it, but again I heard nothing.

"Suddenly, at the end of last week, I discovered from an American dealer that the whole lot was to be auctioned in mid-June. It puts us in a very difficult position. As I was not able to see the collection before the auction, I can't say what we may want. Worse, it will not be possible to organise grants or funding because there is not enough time. We will be there on the day, but I don't know what will happen. It's very sad."

Among the items to be auctioned are a wooden cigar box and a walking stick made for Churchill by carpenters in the War Rooms, as well as 23 files of photographs. One is a rare colour picture of Churchill, signed by him and showing him at his desk with map officer Captain Sir Richard Pim.

There are also odd personal items like seven sheets of lavatory paper from the bunker printed with "Now Wash Your Hands Please". Much of the collection is made up of George Rance's own wartime working papers. A signed letter sent from Churchill to Rance, marking his retirement in May 1950, is also included and reads: "I have heard you have had to relinquish your active work at our wartime headquarters, which hold many memories for me."

Only a few trusted aides knew of the Cabinet War Rooms buried beneath a 15-foot-thick slab of solid concrete in Storey's Gate off Whitehall. They were conceived in 1936, as a bomb-proof command centre in case of a war with Germany. Rance, who had previously been in charge of charwomen's wages, was asked to clear a series of underground rooms and fit them out with tables, chairs, lights, camp beds and supplies.

Special locks were fitted to the doors to which only Rance had keys, and maps and documents from the Admiralty and the war office were smuggled in.