Huge numbers of men died in the World War One trenches. But many who survived faced a future of life-changing physical problems. One such was Pte William Eli Bodsworth, of the Bedfordshire Regiment, whose mother lived at 32 Jubilee Street, Luton.He seemed resigned to what had happened but was determined to make the most of what he had.
In May 1917 Mrs Bodsworth was officially informed that her son was seriously ill in hospital suffering from wounds. That intimation was followed by a telegram saying that he was dangerously ill and asking his mother to go over to France to see him. Owing to her own poor health, she was unable to do so.
The Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph took up Pte Bodsworth's story and how he was responding to the prospect of having only one leg.
First came letters to his home from Sister E. J. Johnson, of the No. 3 General Hospital in France, where William was a patient. She wrote to Mrs Bodsworth: "Your son's leg is in a very bad state, and it may be impossible to save it. He is fairly well in himself and keeps cheerful."
In her next letter Miss Johnson wrote: "Your son has undergone an operation, and the surgeon was obliged to amputate his right leg above the knee. He has been comfortable since the operation was performed, and I think his progress will be satisfactory."
Next came Pte Bodsworth's own response to what had happened to him. And he did seem keen to put on a brave face and seemed relieved that for him the war was over.
He wrote: "I am still smiling, for that I can do. Now, my knee got in a funny state and the doctors did not like the looks of it. They did all they could to save it for me but could not, so now I have got one leg instead of two. I don't have half the pain to put up with, so can still smile, especially when sometimes I image I can feel my toes.
"No doubt I shall get another leg better than this was when it was hit, so don't worry. They tell me that if they could have saved my leg the recovery would have been a long time about."
He added: "So now it won't take so long, and I shall be in Blighty earlier, so don't get alarmed for when I get back into civvy life I shall not starve, nor let you either. So cheer up, I have only one boot to clean now instead of two."
Before the war, William Bodsworth had worked for mineral water manufacturer Mr W. Allen, of Castle Street, Luton. He had been in the Army for 12 months, eight of which he had spent in France after training at Ampthill.
[Beds & Herts Saturday Telegraph: June 2nd, 1917]