When shipbroker Charles Barne was clearing out his father’s house in 2012 he made an unexpected discovery.

A cache of diaries written by his grandfather, Anthony Barne, chronicled the six years of World War II, his daily experiences and personal encounters with British wartime prime minister Winston Churchill.

Fast-forward seven years and the younger Barne, who works for Greek owner Lykiardopulo in London, is awaiting delivery of the first copies of Churchill’s Colonel: The War Diaries of Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Barne.