There was a large minefield between Baexem and Heythuysen. On 16 November 1944, Donald Barrett and a few more soldiers from the 7th Royal Welch Fusiliers Battalion were sent out to clear the minefield.

 With a few dismantled mines under his arm, 24-year-old Barret stepped on a mine and was killed. Other members of his battalion were seriously injured. Barret was laid to rest in a service held in a shed behind the café of the Schrooijen family. He was buried in the family's garden, a few hundred metres from the current café.

Today, Donald Barret is a symbol for the many British soldiers who fought for the liberation of Leudal. Every year on King's Day, the Sint Jan marksmen lay flowers at the monument.