Top secret WW2 papers including instructions to boat skippers in the event of a German invasion have been found in an attic.
History buff Mark Stanford discovered them when clearing out his dusty loft.
The 53-year-old had collected the Trinity House documents but hadn’t got around to sorting them out.
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But he was stunned when he finally read them at his home in Ramsgate, Kent.
Trinity House was responsible for escorting ships around the British coast and into ports.
One letter, dated 3 December, 1942, was marked “Secret.”
It gave warnings about Nazi attacks but asked for the letter to be “destroyed” after it was read.
It told the boat skippers: “I am directed to instruct you that in the event of an attempted enemy invasion, the following arrangements are to be strictly carried out by you.
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“On receipt of the one word signal ‘Domestic’, by telegram, telephone or other means, you should make such domestic arrangements as you wish in view of a probable attack.
“You are advised to give consideration to these arrangements now.
“On receipt of the signal ‘Terminus’ you should report immediately at this pilot station for duty.”
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“This letter is to be destroyed when the contents have been memorised.
“Its contents are secret and are not to be communicated to any other person”
Another note, also marked “Secret” was typed out on 7 September, 1939.
It warned boat skippers to avoid a communication “cable” being laid in the English Channel.
One dated 21 October 1940 said they were given “free” gas masks and helmets but must pay for them if they got lost.
Another from 5 July that year warned of French ships being put under “continuous surveillance” so they didn’t cause “damage.”
Mark told What’s The Jam: “They’re interesting documents.
“Especially as they were classified as secret and the recipients were meant to read and destroy them for security reasons.”
He joked: “As they are secret, I’m in the process of eating said messages now.”
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