We are aware of unscrupulous people selling fake Auxiliary Unit Stand-Down badges.
Don’t be fooled. We’ve seen enough real badges to know the difference. Please contact us if you are unsure if a badge is genuine or not.
We sell memorial badges produced by CART in our online shop for £6.95. https://shop.coleshillhouse.com/
Firstly lots of big thanks to everyone who helped make the 75th Anniversary of Aux Units Stand Down at the National Trust’s Coleshill Estate such a resounding success. This year also marks the 10th Anniversary of CART.
The day went extremely well, even the weather didn’t put off the crowds who attended.
Brilliant day – well done all !!
Final preparations are gathering pace for the largest display of Auxiliary Units equipment ever put together, with many items never having been displayed before.
This is a large part of the National Trusts event on Sunday 22nd September marking the 75th anniversary of Auxiliary Units being stood down. Near Swindon, Wiltshire, SN6 7PT.
So much going on. See the Programme of Events and flyer below:
Come and learn about saboteurs, spies and secret messages hidden in tennis balls, designed to help thwart a German invasion…
C.A.R.T. will be set up in The Granary, so come and say hi.
Sunday September 22nd, 10am to 4pm. SN6 7PT
The grounds of Coleshill House are littered with Aux history. There’s the Guard House, replica SD hide, the remains of the huts where some of the men lived and worked. Grenade and rifle ranges, where they practiced on old tanks and lorries – even a piece of one of those tanks has been found.
We will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Auxiliers being stood down from service. These brave men and women volunteered to act as an underground resistance to the threatened German invasion in 1940.
What else ? Military vehicles, re-enactors, music & dancing, food and drink. For the kids there will be a special activity challenge trail, and code-breaking.
Plus there are some special guests lined up too:
Malcolm Atkin: former archaeologist, military historian & professional author including these WW2 books –
Tony ‘Scallywag’ Salter: Living Historian and highly knowledgeable Aux Units enthusiast, Tony (and his lovely wife Julie) take their display all around the country educating as they go –
Auxiliary Unit talks from Chris Pratt (British Resistance Museum at Parham, Suffolk), and local historian Bill King who contributed to the book ‘With Britain in Mortal Danger’, as well as appearing in various television programmes.
Of course C.A.R.T. will be there too, packing The Granary to the gunwales with displays of weapons, explosives and other equipment issued to the Auxiliers, a fully equipped bunker and re-creations of the wartime offices. There will be lots of items on display for first time in 75 years in this location, including numerous original documents and photographs.
This is a huge event and not to be missed.
We are looking forward to returning to this cracking family-friendly show with an Aux Units display and info. See you there !
CART’s Somerset researcher recently laid a wreath for Major Ian Fenwick on the War Memorial and at the church in Bruton, Somerset.
Major Fenwick, a former Somerset Intelligence Officer who organised and trained Somerset Auxiliers (part of 203 Reserve Battalion GHQ), went on to join 1st SAS.
On 16th / 17th June 1944, he was dropped into Normandy a hundred miles behind enemy lines and successfully led sabotage missions against German communications. He was killed in an ambush on 7th August 1944 trying to assist his team who had been attacked. You can read a full account on the Para-Data website here: https://www.paradata.org.uk/people/ian-fenwick
Before the war Ian Fenwick was a professional cartoonist for magazines such as Punch. He had family connections and lived for a while in Bruton, Somerset.
Learn more about the Somerset Auxiliary Unit Patrols here: https://www.coleshillhouse.com/somerset-auxiliary-units-and-obs.php
It’s 10 years ago this weekend that CART was set up and what amazing progress the organisation has made since then!
Much thanks to Tom Sykes – Cameraman & Accredited Drone Pilot who set up CART and made such a huge contribution to the organisation. And a huge thank you to all our volunteers and supporters who continue to commit so many hours of their own time to researching and honouring the remarkable members of the Auxiliary Units!
CART was at two events this weekend. One in Somerset and the other in Colchester, Essex. Busy times.
Next event is at the Chickerell Steam & Vintage show in Weymouth, Dorset, next weekend. Come and say hi !
CART will be returning to this fantastic event with our ‘multi-award-winning’ display, relaxed chat and plenty of info about Churchill’s Auxiliary Units and what they would have done if Hitler had invaded in 1940. Some members of the Auxiliary Units went on to join the SAS and were dropped into France for D-Day…
https://chickerellsteamshow.uk/attractions/
CART will have our ‘multi-award winning display’ at Haselbury Mill on Sunday June 30th. Come along for a family fun day out and discover what Churchill’s Auxiliary Units would have done if Britain was invaded in WW2.
http://www.haselburymill.co.uk/events-1
CART will be at Colchester Garrison, Essex as part of Armed Forces Day, hosted by the 16th Air Assault Brigade on Saturday 29th June. If you’re around. Drop by for a chat..
Researchers will be on hand complete with a display of equipment & information about local Auxiliary Units. Find out what they would have done if Hitler had invaded in 1940. Some members of the Auxiliary Units went on to join the SAS and were dropped into France for D-Day in 1944.
