I hear Churchill s war bunker is for sale

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Q. Pardon me. What's all that about then

A.� This extraordinary collection of papers, detailing the clandestine construction of Churchill's underground headquarters in Whitehall, is to be auctioned in London this month.

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Q.� How secret

A.� Well not that secret, if you're an Answerbank regular (see my feature on London's subterranean secrets by clicking here), but ultra secret at the time. The existence of the Cabinet War Rooms - buried beneath a 15ft slab of concrete in Storey's Gate - was kept secret, even within Whitehall. Stringent precautions had to be taken when it came to finding it stationery and furniture.

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Q.� How so

A.� George Rance - an enterprising former Army sergeant whose Civil Service job was filling in women cleaners' pay sheets - was put in charge when the bunker was built in 1937. Rance managed to acquire furniture, lighting, maps and documents from other government departments without arousing suspicion.

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Q.� How Did he nick it

A.� Not quite the turn of phrase I would have preferred. But yes - even from the War Office, Foreign Office and Air Ministry. Every time Rance was given a legitimate order from a ministry for a chair, he would attach a second, unauthorised application to the form and put the surplus piece of furniture in the War Rooms. He was the only key-holder and built up a close relationship with Churchill. Post to the bunker was addressed 'c/o Mr Rance', a phrase which became code for the whole underground operation.

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Q.� And the papers

A.� They were Rance’s and are being sold by his elderly son, also called George. There are 23 files of photographs. One is a rare colour picture of Churchill, signed by him and showing him at his desk. Among items for auction are a wooden cigar box and a walking stick made for Churchill by carpenters in the War Rooms. A letter from Churchill to Rance, marking his retirement in May 1950, reads: 'I have heard you have had to relinquish your active work at our war-time headquarters, which hold many memories for me.'

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Q.� And the papers will be snapped up by one of our museums

A.� Not sure. They are being auctioned by Phillips in London on 15 June and could fetch up to �30,000 – but they could be lost to the nation. The Imperial War Museum and the Cabinet War Rooms (now a tourist attraction) are both eager to acquire them. Phil Reed of the Cabinet War Rooms said he had been in talks with the Rance Jr, but heard nothing positive. Then he discovered from an American dealer that the whole lot was to be auctioned.

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'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. It's very sad,' he said.

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By Steve Cunningham