Correspondence from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1914-1915 - Part 5

place in daylight. We appreciate this very much.

The second force have arrived. They are at Heliopolis

and Meadi.
They brought our reinforcements, who are now with
us. I have met a lot of friends in the second force.
Someone has been damaging our reputation as the
new arrivals were quite surprised to find us very
respectable.

The behaviour of the 1^st force has been wonderful up
to the present.
As a matter of fact they haven’t enough money
to get drink, which is responsible for any trouble
likely to happen.

I as They also heard that a lot of chaps have been
rendered unfit by contracting venereal diseases.
As a matter of fact, although a few practically
unavoidable cases have occurred the percentage is
very low. Take our battalion for instance. We
have at present 15 cases (none serious) and we left
Melbourne with 17. Don’t you think that very
creditable.
Well Harry I think that is all for the present

so will say goodbye
Love to yourself & Essie not forgetting baby
from Your Brother

Les. 

Mena Camp, Eygpt

25/2/1915
Dear Mother
Your letter & Jim’s of 26/1/1915 to hand. I did
not get one from Harry and as you did not mention any
news of him, I expect one more of my letters has gone astray.
As you say the postal arrangements are rotten. Jim says

that. Harry has sent numerous papers. Well, all I have
received is a Referee. A lot of the chaps are getting plenty
of papers, so I think I am having a run of bad luck.
Today is a holiday. I spent this morning washing
my clothes.
Capt Bean’s report has caused a lot of trouble. It is the
sole topic under discussion at present. The boys are very

indignant and if they catch Capt Bean, he will surely
get beans.
I think that he is a waster himself, as the behaviour
has not only been good, but extra good. The only thing
he could have against us is this.

When we disembarked, everybody had plenty of cash &
after a long sea journey some of them were very thirsty.
Instead of taking drinks like beer & whisky, they drank
some native liquors, the vilest stuff ever concocted.
The result is that they went raving mad for the time
being. However they did not try it twice

(2)

As things stand now, a man drawing 2/- per day can
scarcely afford to drink heavily. I think that 

drunkeness was his chief complaint & as I said before
there are a lot more drunks in Melbourne on an
ordinary Sat night, than there is in Cairo.

Besides the Australians get the credit of any wrongdoing
here. The New Zealanders (who are no class & will never 
be soldiers) & Territorials cannot do anything wrong.
Every N. Zealander always takes every opportunity to put
the dirt into us. They are awfully jealous of us.
We can beat them in every department of the game.
Ever since N.Z. gave away that dreadnought the N.Z’s
have had swelled head & brag about their accomplishments 
till they make you sick. They failed lamentably when
tried on serious work.
There is very little news to tell. We are still training, but

are having an easier time than before. I don’t think we
will be here long. In fact I think. this will be the last
letter you will receive for an indefinite time. We are
to be allowed to send cards only. I think they
have printed cards for us. I hope they do not stop

us from receiving letters. That would be too bad. I am
eagerly waiting every mail & when my letters are nearly
the last sorted, I begin to think they have been lost
& consequently am on pins & needles till I get them.

(3)
It was funny, you mentioning photos, as Vic Lusic & I
had our photo's taken last week. The chap has

disappointed us however & I don’t think you will get 

them by this mail. If they stop the letters this 

week, it will rather awkward, but I hope to get 

them through.
We did not get taken at the Pyramids, but I don’t

suppose that will matter much. To tell you the truth,
we are heartily sick of the sight of the Pyramids.
Things must indeed be serious in Melbourne. I
think that 10' is too much for bread under any 
conditions. There are a few people at least, who are
making money out of the war.
All the Middle Park boys are well. Most of them have
been vaccinated during the last week. That is
those, who were not successfully done on board.
I am in splendid condition, improving every week.
I think that concludes this weeks news. I wish they
would restore the weekly service as a fortnight is a bit

too long to wait.
Goodbye for the present
from your loving Son
Les.

P.S I was informed this morning that I was to be promoted.
It may be two stripes but more likely one.  However to get even
one stripe on your merits is a notable performance,. as all the
jobs are generally cut & dried for certain ones
Love to all   Les   

Mena Camp, Cairo
Egypt
6/3/1915
Dear Mother                                                                             
Our mail has not yet come to hand, but as
the outward mail closes tomorrow I thought I would
drop you a few lines.
As you see, we are still in Egypt, but are liable to leave
any week.  We do not know our destination, and if we
did I would not be able to tell you, as our letters are
being censored.
There is very little to write. We are still training.
We had some very interesting work this week. The whole
of the first division has been sham fighting together.
I think we are about finished now. I sincerely hope
so, as it is getting very hot now, and you cannot
escape the sun in the desert. I have already lost all
claims to be a white man. I am "all but" a nigger.
I have got my photo's. They are rotten, but about as good
as you can get here. I am sending them with this
letter. I hope you like our "shorts". They are very
popular here. I am now a Lce Corporal with a good
chance of another stripe shortly.
Dear Mother, I hope you will forgive this short note. I cannot
say all I would like to, as you may get nothing at all.
Best love to all from Les

Mena Camp
Egypt
Saturday  13/3/1915
Dear Mother
I was disappointed, at not receiving a letter from you
by this mail. I received one from Jim & one from Harry, both
dated 7/2/1915.  Jim did not mention you writing & I thought
it strange, as I have got a letter from you, by every mail up
till now.
I expect the letter has followed the fate of several others.
I have not received any of the papers which Jims mentioned
having sent, although quantities of them are delivered
every mail.
There is nothing fresh this mail. We are still on the
desert, hoping every week to get away.
The 3^rd contingent arrived this week. There are a lot of
Middle & Albert Park chaps in the last two contingents. We
have several in our reinforcements. It is quite like the
beach when they are all together at night. Some of them
you know. Parker (2), Lusic, Stirling, Spence, Thompson, Tully,
Basto, Dew, Penklebury, Bradley, Horsely, Thomas, Feuster, Koppers
& others who I can't think of for the moment.
I think that in proportion, Mid Park is doing a great
deal more than most suburbs. I saw N. Spence last night 

He is pretty weak & I dont think he will be able to go forward
with us, when we move.
He did not receive the money that his mother sent,
And he cannot make proper enquiries about it. I
think he will be very lucky if he gets it. I told him
that he should not have asked for £13. In this case

it has been an unlucky number.
Poor old Norman, I am very sorry for him, because I am
just the opposite of him. I am healthy & strong, while
he is thin & weak. I know he envies me, because
every time he sees me he says I am getting fatter.
All the new arrivals say that we are all improved since
we left Melbourne.
There has been a circular issued here from Capt Bean,
denying that he made any statements that were
against our characters to the Melbourne papers. In fact
he gave us a very good name & finished up by saying
that Australia ought to be proud of us.
But whatever you hear, you can always believe that,
(although there are the few unavoidable "wasters" to be
found among a large body of men) the first contingent
at least, is as good as any body of men in the world.
There was a rumour, that Capt Bean was going to
address the men last week. We were all waiting for
him, but he did not turn up. I think he would

be very unwise to speak, as the men are boiling with
indignation & swear that they will be quits.
When you think of 99 men out of 100, working like
niggers under a sweltering sun & often in blinding
clouds of sand, doing their best patiently, as no one
expected to have to do nearly 4 months on the desert.
And then having some bounder taking away
their characters at home. It's not a fair. deal, as we
have no way to defend ourselves.
I will not speak of this again, as I am sure you
will believe my side of the question & indeed everybody
who writes home is saying the same.
I am glad to hear the baby is doing. well & proud to
hear of it having my name. I will do my best to
justify the honour Harry has placed on me.
Tell Ruby I hope y she enjoyed her holiday, which I

am sure she well earned.
Goodbye for the present
Love to all from your loving son
Les.
P.S. G. Sterling did not get a letter from his mother either.  We were
wondering if you both are on strike.  Dont think us greedy Mother
but we cannot hear too much from you.
Les

[*21/3/15
Dear Mother
I received a letter
this morning that has
been delayed. It should
have arrived last week. You
remember me saying I
did not get a letter one mail
Well, that letter has arrived.
You say in it that you have
not received any letters for
2 Mails. I trust that they
have arrived before this.  You
know I write every
week.
I saw Alick at church this
morning. Tell Auntie he is well
& behaving well. Les*]
Mena, Egypt
20/3/1915
Dear Mother
We received an unexpected mail this
week, and I received your long letter of 16/2/1915 & Jims
of the 17^th. Also Perces' & Gerties' letters.
I have now received letters from all but Ruby. See if
you can get her to write a few lines
I think I have got all your letters, but the papers that
Jim mentions having sent have not arrived. All I have
received is the Australasian you sent at first.
I seem to be very unlucky with papers, as Vic got
3 last mail.
I will write to Aunt Eliza by the next mail. I would like to
write to a lot people, but it would mean always writing,
and, as you know I have not too many opportunities of
writing a decent letter.
I have not seen Alick for some time, but see Gordon Sterling
every day, as he is in the same Platoon. He is quite well
and I think he writes pretty regular.
I am glad to hear that things are fairly good at home.
I often wonder if you are unhappy. It is more than
I can bear, when I think; perhaps you are having
a bad time. Don't worry for me as I am always

(2)
well, and happy when I am not thinking too much of
home.
We don't know when we are to leave here. We are
all, full up of Egypt. There is too much sand
& sun here at present.
You say you are dreading the time when we leave,
for France & we are all praying for that day.
I am longing to shake the dust, or rather sand of
Egypt off my feet.
We had a route march to the Zoo last week. About
11 Miles altogether. It was our first day on the hard
road for a long time & we quite enjoyed it.
There are two pontoon boats at the Zoo which
were captured from the Turks at the Canal. They
are torn to pieces with shrapnel bullets & splinters.
They were presented by General Maxwell.
We had the longest march today, since we arrived.
About 18 Miles through a succesion of native villages.
It was certainly picturesque; but it hummed.
The Arabs are about the dirtiest people on earth.
The children are not washed for the first 7 years.
And I think that not having the habit, they never
start. Some of them are caked with dirt & they
never seem to brush the flies off themselves.
If you pass on the wind side of a group of Arabs