Don't play the enemy's game by striking. That was the plea from a brother serving in the 1st Battalion, Beds Regt, to a brother working as a mechanic at Commercial Cars in Luton after hearing of recent strike action at the Biscot Road factory. The firm was engaged in war work.
"Believe me, Fred," wrote brother and former Commercial Cars worker Will from the front, "you are playing into the enemy's hands by striking. Nothing would suit Germany better than to see England in a labour war. My sympathies are with you in your endeavour to get more money, but if you can get enough to pay your way, for God's sake do your bit.
"Don't take notice of agitators. Remember that by keeping the ball rolling you are helping us out here one way or another, I am working out here for a pittance that I have earned in half a week. I drew 29s since I left England. I don't mind. I am doing it for one end.
"When we come home victorious then people can agitate. But, Fred, from me, do your bit. Stick to your work. I see in the paper that up North they can't get the men to work. I know what it means to continually stick at work night and day, but I think they are lucky to get the work they do.
"Remember, it is our boys out here that are giving them that privilege. If the Germans could only get Calais there would be some trouble for England. We have lost thousands of good men in keeping them back.
"We know what it means if they beat us here. But they won't. We know what we are fighting for. It has been a terrific struggle. You in England don't know, Our Navy is doing its utmost to keep the seas open, and we are doing our best to keep England out of danger.
"If you only realised what a close one it has been...you never will. You have got to be here to see. This is funny talk, Fred, but I feel deeply on this point. Those men who have not enlisted, it;s up to them to keep the flag flying - not to squabble over a paltry shilling or two while men are dying every day so that they should have the privilege to work at home."
[Saturday Telegraph, March 27th, 1915]