A SEARCH is under way for a mysterious lost bunker in the Chepstow area that would have been used by a secret auxiliary army unit.

The Auxiliary units or British Resistance Organisation of World War Two was the name given to a force of civilian volunteers that would carry out sabotage and guerrilla warfare in the event of a successful German invasion of the British Isles.

Secret units were set up across the country, with a variety of civilians from all walks of life selected to join.

One such group was the Monmouthshire Auxiliary Unit, with local cells established throughout the region, such as Esau' in Usk, Jephtha' in Abergavenny and Abraham' in Chepstow.

Josephine Jones, who runs the Riverside Gallery in Chepstow, expressed her shock after local historians recently revealed to her that her late father, Brian Kerruish, was a member of the Abraham patrol.

She said: "I could not believe it when I was told that my father was in this unit and was in fact trained to be a guerrilla fighter.

"He was a vet at Llanover Lodge in Welsh Street, so there was no indication he would have been involved in this.

"It is amazing really, and I suppose I am very proud that he would defend his country like this."

Another member of the Abraham patrol was George Major, who was the manager of the Red and White bus company in the town.

His son, Chris, from Tintern, knew nothing of his father's secret past.

He said: "My father announced that he was a conscientious objector to the war so it came as a huge surprise to me that he was one of the members of the Abraham patrol. He died in 1997 so I never had the opportunity to talk to him about it.

"There is still so much we do not know about this group and it would be fantastic to find their bunker.

"They would have used it to store weapons, and generally had it as a base of attack.

"I believe it may be in the St Pierre area but I think it will be very difficult to find, after all, it was meant to be a secret."

A similar bunker to the one Abraham patrol are believed to have built has already been found in Langstone.

Mrs Jones added: "There is almost certainly a secret bunker somewhere in the area and it would be great to locate it.Also, it would be fantastic if we could find out more about the Abraham patrol from anyone living in the area."

If you have any information regarding the possible whereabouts of Abraham patrol's secret bunker contact the Free Press on 01291 627333 or write to the Free Press office, 18 St Mary Street, Chepstow Monmouth-shire, NP16 5EW.