Dunstable Hero Killed

Tuesday 22nd February 1916: Private Frederick Horace Barton, 20, the only surviving child of Mr and Mrs F C Barton of 12 Ashton-street, Dunstable, has died of wounds sustained while serving with the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.

Private Barton was a native of Luton and was an old Surrey-street school boy, his parents residing at that time in New Town-street. On September 7th 1914 he enlisted in the 7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and went out to France with the battalion in July 1915. In September he was wounded in the head and was brought to a military hospital at Sheffield. On October 19th he came home and six days later was married. Later he had to report at Colchester and on December 19th last he was sent out with a draft to the 6th Bedfords.

His parents received a letter dated February 20th from the Sister of the 19th Casualty Clearing Station who wrote to Mrs Barton that her son was dangerously wounded in the chest and the arm on the 19th and that the doctors were doing everything everything that could possibly be done for him but thought there was not very much hope. By the same post there also came a letter from one of the doctors to say that Private Barton died on 20th and was buried the following afternoon, all military respect being shown, and an officer and party of comrades attending. The grave is a single one with a cross at the head and foot and it will be surrounded by a box hedging.

Lieutenant Connell, an officer of the deceased’s company, who is home on leave called on Mr and Mrs Barton and said how sorry they all were to lose deceased as he was well liked by officers and men and was always very full of life.

Source: Luton News 2nd March 1916

(1) Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No. 1