It was a heartfelt plea from a schoolgirl to a military chief to spare her beloved pony from the First World War.
And now the note from Freda Hewlett to Lord Kitchener is to become the centrepiece of an exhibition revealing the true stories behind Steven Spielberg’s new Hollywood blockbuster War Horse.
The patriotic letter – signed off ‘your little Britishers’ – shows how Freda’s family wrote from their farmhouse in Haigh, Wigan, begging the Secretary of State for War not to enlist their pony Betty to the cavalry.
The letter, handwritten on August 11, 1914 on paper headed with the family address – The Cottage, Haigh, Wigan – reads: “Dear good Lord Kitchener, We are writing for our pony which we are very afraid may be taken for your army!
“Please spare her! Daddy says she is going to be a mother early next year and is 17 years old – it would break our hearts to let her go.
“We have given two others and three of our family are now fighting for you in the Navy. Mother and all will do anything for you but do do please let us keep old Betty. Your troubled little Britishers, P.L. and Freda Hewlett.”
A response from the war secretary confirms that no horse measuring under 15 hands will be taken from them, which would have almost certainly meant Betty was not called up.
Both letters are to go on display as part of the Once Upon A Wartime exhibition at the Imperial War Museum North that will unearth the true stories behind War Horse.
Scores of Brits had their animals taken for the Great War and their stories inspired Spielberg’s new film.
The Hewlett family letter and Kitchener’ response were donated to the museum many years ago. Museum chiefs have tried to trace Freda’s surviving relatives wihout success.
The exhibition, which explores some of the best loved children’s tales of war, will also feature props from the set of War Horse as well as objects which belonged Michael Morpurgo, who wrote the children’s novel the film is based on.
Jim Forrester, director of IWM North, said: “These extraordinary works of fiction help us all to see war through a child’s eyes and we are bringing them to life in this exhibition.
Once Upon A Wartime runs from Feb 11 until Sept 2.
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I doubt a ponies life would have bothered the hierarchy,because basically they didn't give a toss about sending countless soldiers to be butchered....same as today really...
allmodcons, prestwich
100% right, I was always taught you were meant to learn from the past, however we never seem to, what are we doing in Afghanistan/Iraq. Send the blue bloods and the Politicians who seem to think war and dying for Queen and country is where its at, let them enjoy it...................
Slow news day ?
the 1901 census
shows freda's full name was
Alfreda Margaret Hewlett daughter of Alfred & Amy Hewlett
living @ Haigh Cottage, Haigh, Wigan.
The records also show a passenger named Alfreda M Hewlett age 28 leaving for Quebec in 1928 the same age Alfreda would have been at that time
perhaps this is why she hasnt been traced
"A response from the war secretary confirms that no horse measuring under 15 hands will be taken from them, which would have almost certainly meant Betty was not called up£
It's a pity they didn't think the same about children. The recruiting seargents bullied anyone who looked remotely old enough without checking. The military didn't give a toss about human life then, If we'd killed all the Germans and only had one person alive in our trenches, they would have considered that a success.