As we were preparing a re-vamped version of our Weapons & Explosives DVD we came across a short piece of video which we have never shared with anyone.
It features the late Keith Blaxhall guiding Coleshill trained Auxilier Bob Millard around the Coleshill training Operational Base.
Keith was the Head Warden at Coleshill for many years and he loved sharing all his knowledge. Bob explains how things were done in his OB.
Enjoy
We are pleased to say that after a very positive meeting with the new owner of the old Post Office in Highworth, we have been granted permission to erect a few information panels in the public corridor.
At this stage we plan to design one on Mabel Stranks, the secretive post mistress and one on the Auxiliary Units and Coleshill.
Highworth Post Office was the secret gateway for all Auxiliers on their way to Coleshill.
They will be created by Lee Hiom a Highworth based Graphic Designer.
You can see more on the Post Office and Mabel here
More info to follow over the next few months.
Eric Grey was a Technical/Mechanical Transport Clerk at GHQ Coleshill with the Royal Army Service Corps.
The RASC contingent was responsible for driving the officers around and delivering stores all over the Country.
Eric provides a great background to what went on at Coleshill and his records have been able to verify many postings at the GHQ.
Read Bill Ashby’s full report on Eric here
Today we added a real insight into life at GHQ Coleshill.
Cpl Joan Welborn worked in the stable block as a Typist during the war.
Read the full report and see images of her and others taken at Coleshill here
Our thanks to Joan and CART CIO for Coleshill Bill Ashby for preparing this page.
We are pleased to announce that CART membership has now re-opened.
We are working towards a full revamp of our website which will offer greater disability access and a whole range of improved features for web visitors. This is an expensive procedure and sadly not one that can be created in-house using volunteer time. We desperately need to raise as much funding as possible and CART membership fees will contribute greatly towards this.
We hope you will want to support us and can see the value in the hard work we are all putting in to keeping this important history public and freely accessible.
You can see all the benefits of new membership and sign up here
Please do share this with other interested parties as well.
As the sun sets over Coleshill and the re-enactors pack up their tents we look back at the past 48 hours and say well done to everyone who took part.
The weekend follows months of planning by the National Trust at Coleshill and was a vast improvement on the previous event in 2010.
There were many catering retailers this year and the food options were very tasty. Entertainment was provided by the Warneford Big Band and there was plenty to do for children and families from face painting to code breaking.
On Saturday the new replica Operational Base was opened by Coleshill trained Auxilier Bob Millard and after a brilliant speech he cut the ribbon with his Fairbairn Sykes dagger before taking the time to talk to young and old about his training and service.
Crowds then queued for hours to have a sneak peak inside the unfinished building.
CART researchers wandered around the vast estate answering questions and helping people find the key parts of the site.
On both days there were three talks given. Bill King spoke about how the Auxiliers were formed. Karen Fielder spoke about the architectural masterpiece that was Coleshill House and Chris Pratt from the British Resistance Museum at Parham educated listeners on the three elements to the British Resistance Movement.
The talks were full on both days.
Auxiliary Re-Enactors brought the sites wartime use to life with weapons displays, loud bangs and hands on practical education of weapons and explosives used. Tony Salter brought his excellent mobile Aux display and fired up the children’s imagination.
The 70 year old original Operational Base set deep in the Coleshill woods was also open and National Trust volunteer
Roger Green provided guided tours and more than comfortably filled the boots of the late warden Keith Blaxhall.
There were many vintage vehicles on display with the Austin 7 club and the Military Vehicle Trust (MVT) present.
On Sunday CART researchers set up a small display in the Granary and answered many questions from the public.
Impressionist, playwright and comedian Rory Bremner even popped in and picked up a CART flyer. Later he posted on Twitter.
More information on the weekend and all the images can be found here
Thanks to all who took part and all who attended and special thanks to Keith Blaxhall who kept the Aux fire burning at Coleshill for over 30 years.
Today at midday Auxilier Bob Millard (Bathampton Patrol) opened the new replica Operational Base at Coleshill.
Bob cut the tape using his original Fairbairn Sykes Fighting knife after delivering a short speech on the Aux Units and the threat of invasion.
The opening of the OB was part of the weekend long celebrations at the site called ‘Coleshill Underground’.
See more on Bob here and the weekend here.
You can see a selection of images from the day here
If you are local and free tomorrow why not pop up.
Look out for the CART historians in yellow tabards and come and say hello.
On Thursday we saw the start of a new series on BBC2 called Wartime Farm.
Steve Mason, our CIO for Hampshire was featured in the show and went to pains to advise the production company on the accurate history of both the Auxiliary Units and SDS.
Sadly, like many TV companies, they got it wrong so we have produced a the correct version below.
The National Trust at Coleshill are planning another event at Coleshill later this month.
Some CART researchers will be walking around in branded hi vis tabards but CART will not have a stand at the event.
This event will be a busy interactive weekend, visitors will be encouraged to arrive in 1940’s costume, there will be prizes!
Please Note: The event is the same each day except for Saturday at noon when the OB will be opened.
To find out more about the weekend please see here
It is with great sadness that we report the death of Keith Blaxhall. Keith was the Head Warden at Coleshill (National Trust) for over 30 years and was incredibly influential in the creation of CART and was a founding member. He died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday. Keith features on our Weapons DVD and was a real ambassador for keeping the memory of the Auxiliary Units alive.
Keith was qualified as a Building and Land Surveyor and worked for an architect, a national contractor and in local government. Keith retired in May 2011 but for more than 30 years Keith was the Head Warden for The National Trust in West Oxfordshire and managed country estates, archaeological sites and woodlands covering in all approx 10,500 acres including Coleshill. He was the secretary of The Ridgeway Military and Aviation Research Group with a museum at RAF Welford near Newbury. Keith was also a member of The Airfield Research Group and The Mosquito Aircraft Museum and contributed parts to The Assault Glider Project at RAF Shawbury.
“Keith was my first point of contact at Coleshill and he got me really fired up about the British Resistance. He then worked closely with me as CART was formed and attended all our meetings. His experience, gentle manner and wealth of knowledge will be sorely missed.” – Tom Sykes – CART Founder
“I was very sorry to here of Keith’s passing – I met Keith not long after CART was founded and was struck by his experience, knowledge and enthusiasm for local history, especially that of the Auxiliary Units. A really, really nice guy, I’m sure he will be sorely missed by all who knew him.” – Peter Antill – CART Researcher
“I’m so very sorry to read about Keith. He was a gentleman in a land where few still exist. He had qualities and standards that anyone would be proud to emulate. My thoughts are with his family. It’s they that have to bear the brunt of sorrow, loss, perhaps anger and a hole in life impossible to fill. I’m dreadfully sorry, I liked him greatly.” – Richard Ashley – CART Weapons Adviser
“Such sad news – a really great guy who went out of his way help everyone. He called me only a few days ago to tell me that he had a pile of Aux Coleshill related papers that he was going to hand over. He was in good form, his normal cheerful self and we arranged to meet up. So it is a real shock to hear of his passing. My thoughts are with his family” – Bill Ashby – CART CIO for Coleshill
” I feel privileged to have met with him and enjoyed his wonderful knowledge and humor.” Clive Bassett
“That is such a shame. Will be a sad loss to us all. Sympathy to his family.” – Sallie Mogford – CART CIO for Wales
“I was much saddened to hear the news about the passing on of Keith Blaxhall who’s kind hearted sharing spirit combined with his knowlege of Auxunits and Coleshill was a great help and support for me when I was doing my own researches. He was certainly an inspiration in the way he dealt with others and passed on his own infectious enthusiasm and interest.” – Matt Gibbs – Aux Researcher and Re-Enactor
“Keith’s knowledge and enthusiasm have, I am sure, inspired many people. He was always willing to put himself out to help others and it was always a delight to meet him. He was also a good friend to Subterranea Britannica, running a number of private tours at Coleshill and will be remembered by many.” – Martin Dixon – Subterranea Britannica
He leaves a wife and family and a huge void in the hearts of local historians.
R.I.P Keith.