From The Luton News 13.7.1916.  SAVED BY HIS HELMET. Well known Luton Footballer's Experience. How the British Soldier Goes into Action.  Despite his wounds, Pte H C Preece, 2nd Battalion, Beds Regt., writes us a very cheery letter from a V.A.D. hospital at Broadstairs. Before joining the colours, Pte Preece was well known among footballers in Luton as secretary of the Ivydale F.C his home being at 207 North Street. He says - "I am still a reader of the News and Telegraph as they are posted to me each week and it cheered me up this week as I am in hospital, having been wounded by a shell in this last advance.  We were in the trenches near-------, waiting for the signal to take some German trenches 100 yards away.  The Huns bombarded us but we made the attack and won the trench.  It's wonderful how our lads go into action - they sing and whistle.  The Huns must have lost large numbers of men as our artillery has been heavily bombarding them daily.  I must tell you my helmet saved my life, as a piece of shell pierced through and struck the back of my head.  I have also wounds in my left forearm and left foot.  I cannot describe the ground as it was in such a terrible state but there were hundreds of dead Germans lying about.  The Germans even sniped our wounded as they lay on the battle field.  A fact about the German trenches was that they were concreted in places.  Signed H. G. Preece.  P.S. It is interesting to note that the doctor who is attending me is Dr. Brightman, who at one time was with New Brompton, now Gillingham F.C."

Private Preece survived the War and was discharged on 4th December 1918.