Early September saw the Redline Home Guard travel to the historic Coleshill Estate for their annual 1940s Weekend, an event that brought the site’s remarkable wartime past vividly back to life. Set in the heart of rural Oxfordshire, Coleshill was once the top-secret training headquarters for Britain’s Auxiliary Units – a clandestine network of volunteer fighters prepared to go underground in the event of invasion.
A Site Steeped in Wartime History
During the Second World War, Coleshill House became the headquarters for these covert “stay-behind” units. Volunteers, often drawn from the Home Guard, were trained here in sabotage, demolition, intelligence gathering, and guerrilla warfare – skills intended to disrupt and harass any occupying enemy forces. The estate’s quiet woods and farmland concealed a network of hidden bunkers, weapons stores, and training areas, all shrouded in absolute secrecy until long after the war ended.
Today, the National Trust site preserves this unique history through guided tours and reconstructed features, including a remarkable replica Auxiliary bunker, built to the original wartime design and tucked discreetly into the woodland.
Setting Up at the Guard Room
For this year’s event, the Redline Home Guard were based in the guard room, which served as the starting point for the many guided tours running throughout the day. This prime location meant we had a constant flow of visitors eager to learn more about the wartime history of the estate and the Home Guard’s connection to the Auxiliary Units. Our display included a range of authentic equipment and information panels, helping to tell the wider story of Britain’s preparations for invasion in 1940.
It was a pleasure to meet so many people interested in this often-overlooked part of the Home Front. The steady stream of visitors gave us plenty of opportunity to explain how the Home Guard worked alongside – and in some cases quietly supplied volunteers to – the Auxiliary Units during the darkest days of the war.
Into the Operational Base
A particular highlight of the day was the chance to visit the replica Auxiliary bunker, hidden away on the estate. This underground hideout, complete with its original-style entrance hatch, bunks, and stores, provided a fascinating glimpse into the reality of life for those who would have manned these secret bases. Stepping inside, it was easy to imagine the tension and bravery of the men trained here to fight from the shadows if invasion had ever come.
Remembering the Secret Army
The Coleshill 1940s Weekend offered an engaging mix of re-enactments, pop-up displays, and living history. From Home Front demonstrations to self-led walks around surviving wartime sites, the whole event captured both the secrecy and ingenuity of Britain’s wartime preparations.
We’d like to thank the National Trust team at Coleshill for their warm welcome and for preserving such an important piece of wartime history. Events like this remind us how many layers of Britain’s defences existed beyond the visible pillboxes and stop lines – and how ordinary men and women were ready to defend the country in extraordinary ways.
The Redline Home Guard look forward to returning in future years to continue sharing the story of the defenders of the Home Front and their secret comrades in Britain’s “Secret Army.”
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