WERE the crown jewels brought to Teignmouth during the war?

Definitely, reckons Phil Gourd of Bishopsteignton, who adds: 'I should know – I was there at the time.'

The exact whereabouts of the priceless jewels during the Second World War has been shrouded in mystery, with conflicting claims that they were sent to Canada for safekeeping, or were kept at Windsor Castle.

But Phil, 89, is adamant he has the answers.

And he has revealed for the first time a tale of secrecy and intrigue that would make a good plot for a novel.

He recollects transporting them from Teignmouth to Bodmin in a van belonging to the family transport business, at the outbreak of the war in 1939.

'The Daily Mirror was displaying a replica crown jewels collection around the country, and they were put in the windows of two shops in the Triangle in September, 1939.

'But when war was declared, the real jewels were driven out of the Tower of London for safekeeping.

'I remember a big Humber Snipe and a van arriving in Teignmouth, and a man from the ministry of works asked my father, Henry "Douggie" Gourd if he could take some cases to Bodmin right away.

'Apparently the ministry van had to return to London, and did not have time to complete the journey to Cornwall. With my brother George and cousin Harry Harris, I helped load the boxes into our van, and we had a police escort all the way to Bodmin Jail.

'The ministry van then took the replica jewels back to London for display in place of the genuine jewels, and they were so good, you couldn't tell them from the real thing.

'My father was sworn to secrecy about the job, and ordered us not to say anything for at least 50 years.

'I have absolutely no doubt it was the real crown jewels we were carrying. We took them to the old jail, where they stayed for a few weeks, before being taken to a cave in Wales where they were guarded for the rest of thewar.'

Phil is the only surviving member of those who made that epic journey. He and two friends, the Rev Eric Warren and Peter Harrington, re-enacted the trip on the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war.

They travelled by car to Bodmin Jail, now a restaurant and museum, and were given a warm welcome and reception.

'A lot of people in Bodmin know they were kept in the jail for a short time, and we had a wonderful time. It brought back a lot of memories.

'Teignmouth made another piece of history that day,' Phil added.