The story of a wonderful escape on the battlefield was related in a letter home from Pte George James Bent, 30631, Lewis machine gun section, Bedfordshire Regiment, only son of George and Caroline George Bent, of 34 Albion Road, Luton, and husband of Mrs Laura Victoria Bent, of 37 Langley Road, Luton.

He was wounded in the fight, he said, and took shelter in a shell hole. After a time this became uninhabitable, and he had to crawl a distance of 200 yards with shells falling all around him. At length he found a comrade and some German prisoners, who helped him along. He lost consciousness before long, however, and knew nothing more until he found himself in a hospital bed.

Pte Bent [pictured right] said he was now progressing favourably but slowly, and spoke of the kind treatment he was receiving at the hospital. He was expecting to be moved shortly, and hoped it would be to Blighty.

A letter from the Rev T. H. Burnett, a Wesleyan chaplain in France, to Mrs Bent, said that her husband was progressing very well. He was wounded in the left side, and wished the writer to tell her not to worry.

Pte George Bent was 30 years of age, and before the war worked at the Cotton Agency Depot [as a cotton porter] in King Street. He joined the Army ten months previously, was trained at Ampthill, Sittingbourne and Landguard, and had been in France about five months when wounded on April 23rd.

He was formerly a member of the Church Street Adult School Bowling Club, and held several prizes for bowling.

[The Luton News: Thursday, May 3rd, 1917]