A FARMER has spoken of the moment he was "astonished" to discover a hidden trunk that once belonged to a First World War sergeant.

Keith Bamlet of Frome Whitfield Farm near Dorchester, said he was cleaning out some of the buildings on his land when he made the surprise find.

On inspection the old wooden trunk was found to bear writing - which was later revealed to be linked to a Dorset-based military unit.

Mr Bamlet contacted his solicitor who put him in touch with a former curator of the Keep Military Museum, Christopher Copson.

Along with assistance from Major Nick Speakman, a former trustee and volunteer at the museum, and Mr. Rex Lovell, a volunteer historian specialising in local military matters, the chest has been linked to Sergeant Augustus Henry Newnham, who joined the Dorset regiment on 27 April 1906 and served in Mesopotamia and India.

Mr Bamlet - whose family has been based at the farm for three generations - has since donated the trunk to the Keep Museum and said he believes there must be a connection between his family and the sergeant.

“I am astonished how much information can be gleaned from this old trunk", Mr Bamlet said.

"I do not know precisely how it came to be in one of my buildings, but my family have been farmers in this area for so long that there must no doubt be some kind of connection.

"I am very impressed that the museum can provide this sort of detailed information and I’m delighted to donate the trunk to the Keep Military Museum.”

Christopher Copson said: “The Keep Military Museum is pleased to add this artefact to its public collection. We are most grateful to Mr. Bamlet for his gift of the chest and for an additional donation.”

James Selby Bennet, solicitor at Humphries Kirk, said: “I am very pleased to have been able to assist in this matter. It is an interesting example of the very strong links between the military life of our county and the civilian and rural life of Dorset.”