About us

The Kennet Valley at War Trust was formed in 2006 to help preserve the history of the Kennet Valley during World War Two. It's three trustees are Roger Day, Tim Green and Sam McCallum and it's a self funded organisation which has Charitable status.

Warner Breaks, owners of Littlecote House, have kindly allowed the Trust use of a room in the oldest part of the Tudor Manor near the Cromwellian chapel, which has been turned into a small museum. Currently it has a very American theme, reflecting Littlecote's association with the US 101st Airborne Division, but in the fullness of time more displays will be added to cover the British Army's wartime links with the house and surrounding area.

Can you help? We know that the following units used Littlecote as a HQ during and just after WWII:

BRITISH ARMY- 48th Infantry Division; 42nd Infantry Division; 26th Armoured Brigade; 23rd Armoured Brigade; 2nd Armoured Brigade; 34th Army Tank Brigade; 20th Armoured Brigade and Signals Company, 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade.

CANADIAN ARMY - 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade.

US ARMY - 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 549th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion and the 366th Ordnance Company (Anti Aircraft).

However we have few details about their time in the area so if any reader can supply information, artefacts or photographs for these or any other units we will be delighted to hear from them. This will enable us to expand both the museum and website.
Please contact:roger@kennetvalleyatwar.co.uk

The museum features original wartime artefacts such as helmets, badges and spent ammunition, plus items of aviation archaeology recovered from local crash sites. Because Littlecote House was used by the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment as its HQs, a number of props from the TV series 'Band of Brothers' have been included in the display.

The museum is open to the general public but before travelling it is recommended that visitors contact Warner Breaks in advance (01488 682509). Entrance is free although visitors are encouraged to make a donation towards the continued improvement of the museum.