Pte Frederick William Barrett was lying in the Nottingham (Albert Hall) Military Hospital suffering from a spinal cord injury following his experiences in Flanders during the German spring advance of 1918. He had miraculously escaped death or even being wounded, but the machine gun he was operating fell on his back.
Frederick (pictured right) was a son of Arthur Barrett, of 48 North Street, Luton. He had married Millicent Annie Neale in Luton early in 1917, and it was in this letter to her that was then published in The Luton News [May 2nd, 1918] that he revealed his experiences leading up to April 6th, 1918.
When I went into the line the last time we were sent to a small village called Vriely, the other side of Abbeville. We passed Abbeville on our way up. When we got to this village we slept in old barns. Then in the morning at five we started to the line, which was two miles off, where we supported the ------ Division. We stayed there firing thousands of rounds of ammunition until we were ordered to retire, as the Boches were upon us.
My word, if ever I heard men pray it was then. We set up a new position in the next village. Now, during this time we had been without sleep, a wash or anything - only one biscuit a day, and water with a speck of tea flavour in it, because the Boche was shelling our transport as they were coming with rations.
Well, after a few more days we were relieved, and went back to an old farm which the people had left to save their lives. Here we found a cow, a calf and some rabbits and fowls. We killed a rabbit and some fowls, milked the cow and had a good feed. Then we lay down for our first sleep for ten days. But they found us again with their machine guns and artillery, so once more we had to 'hop it'.
Before I go any further, I must tell you that to see the poor old men and women and children staggering along with their bundles while the roads are being shelled as they go along is something awful. God grant they may yet be spared.
Well, we had found a billet further on. We had orders to go into action again, and there I got my misfortune. There were four of us with an officer holding the position. The older lads lie killed around us. We had a fine target: mowing down the Boches as they were advancing, when a shell burst close to us and blew us all up - the machine gun we were firing with us as well.
God knows how I escaped death. I don't know what became of the other lads and the officer, but I found myself at the dressing station, with blood pouring from my mouth and nose, and it was then I found I could not speak or hear. The doctor tells me he can't understand why I didn't get wounded or killed, but the machine gun I was working dropped on my back, and my back is very bad.
It is five weeks next Saturday since this happened, and my poor old tongue won't speak a word yet. But I am very comfortable and well cared for in hospital, and hope to be better in time.
The Luton News explained that before enlisting Pte Barrett worked for Vauxhall Motors Ltd, and was Secretary of the Central Mission Sunday School. His wife was acting in the latter capacity during his absence.
Fred was one of seven brothers, three of whom were serving in France and the other three in Britain. His father was an old employee of Luton Corporation, for whom he worked in the Highways Department for 22 years.
Mr Barrett Snr had joined up to serve in the war and was for some time a corporal in a labour battalion. However, he was wounded and eventually discharged as over age, and then worked for the Thermo Company in High Town.