A MEMORIAL stone honouring members of a covert British World War Two army has been unveiled near Swanage.

The Langton Matravers Auxiliary Unit was one of many secret squads trained to cause maximum disruption in the event of German land forces occupying Britain.

Fearing imminent invasion after the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation, wartime leader Winston Churchill ordered the formation of the secret units, sometimes referred to as part of the British Resistance Organisation.

A campaign to recognise these men – who were forbidden from discussing their guerrilla warfare training with anyone at the time – has been spearheaded by Langton Matravers Parish Council chairman Peter White.

Peter’s dad, Fred White, was a Sergeant in the Langton Auxiliers.

Peter said: “The auxiliers’ activities were so secret that often even their families didn’t know about them. This could make it very difficult, especially for their children.

“My brother and I had a hard time at school because other children thought my father wasn’t doing his bit for the war effort.”

This secret army operated from hidden underground bunkers equipped with food, supplies, explosives, guns and other weapons.

The Langton bunker was hidden in woodland between Langton and Harman’s Cross.

Such was the secret nature of their work, many members kept silent about their involvement for decades afterwards.

Another Langton man, Martyn Dallenger, only recently discovered his dad, who died six months ago, had served with the Creech Barrow Auxiliary Unit.

He said: “I didn’t believe it at first, then I found an auxilier’s badge pinned to the underside of the collar of my father’s favourite sports jacket.

“I don’t think anyone in the family knew about his involvement.”

The memorial, opposite St George’s Church, was unveiled by Lord Lieutenant of Dorset Mrs Anthony Pitt-Rivers.