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Top secret WW2 plans sell for more than triple guide price

A SET of top secret Second World War plans to liberate the Channel Islands sold for more than three times the guide price at auction yesterday.

A top-secret document detailing British military forces' plans to liberate the Channel Islands has been discovered in a cardboard box in Derbyshire, and was sold at auctioned for more than three times its guide price. (Picture by Hansons Auctioneers) (34360751)
A top-secret document detailing British military forces' plans to liberate the Channel Islands has been discovered in a cardboard box in Derbyshire, and was sold at auctioned for more than three times its guide price. (Picture by Hansons Auctioneers) (34360751) / Suplied picture

The 50-page document, code-named Operation Nestegg, went under the hammer for £3,800, at Hanson’s Auctioneers in Derby.

‘Obviously it’s quite a step up from the estimate [of £800-£1,200] so we and the vendor are delighted,’ said Matt Crowson, militia expert at the auctioneers.

‘It was one of the most popular lots at the auction. We had interest from the Channel Islands, France and the US, but it was a determined bidder from the UK who came in with the highest bid.’

The buyer has asked not to be revealed.

The papers had been found a decade ago in another auction house.

‘Our vendor spotted them in a dusty box with some maps,’ said Mr Crowson. ‘He saw a name of a Channel Island beach and thought they might be interesting and got them for a modest price.

'He then put them in his loft and forgot about them. Until now.’

One of the maps in the same box, which detailed D-Day landing plans, sold at the same auction for £6,000.

Mr Crowson said they had been very excited to have the plans for Operation Nestegg as they saw very few items relating to the occupation of the Channel Islands.

‘In my time I think it is the first piece of that archive that we have seen,’ he said.

‘We get Second World War material from across Europe but the chance to have something from the Channel Islands was wonderful.’

The 47-page document, dated 1 November 1944, covers the ultimately successful plans to liberate the islands in great detail, from the number of ships taking part, to mine-sweeping instructions for the surrounding seas.

Local occupation experts quickly realised that the document had previously been up for sale and that digital copies of its contents had been widely and cheaply available at one time.

The 40,000 German troops stationed in the islands surrendered the next day.

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