Correspondence from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1914-1915 - Part 6

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You would know they were there, if you had your
eyes shut. By jove they do "pong".

I am really hard up for news. Nothing seems to
happen here.
I hope by the time you receive this, to have reached
the age of discretion. I dont seem to feel any
wiser yet, but I feel much more a man, than

I ever did before. I have stopped putting on weight.
The work & weather are against surplus flesh. But I am

12 Stone 4.

I will take this opportunity to wish my dear Mother

many happy returns of the 24^th April. I quite

forgot to wish Harry many happy returns, so will
you please do so for me.
I am sure that if I am home for your next

birthday, it will be the happiest you have ever

spent.

Well, dear Mother, as I have not got Jim's knack of

letter writing, I must close now, with best love

to all

from your loving son

Les.

PS. I forgot to say, I received that little badge you

sent, I have put it in my belt with the others.

All the boys send best wishes to you

Les

5^th MOTTO
5^TH BATTALION A.I.F

Mena
Egypt

27/3/1915
Dear Mother

Yours of the 23/2/15

to hand. This is a half holiday for us
as we were out all last night. I have
just finished washing my clothes Now

I have to darn my socks. Every pair

is worn through. I never realized

how hard it is to sew & darn before

I can manage the sewing alright

but the darning is very hard.

I wish I could send my things

over as I am sure I am spoiling

them all.
I was very glad to get a letter from

Ruby Tell her I will answer it next

mail, as I have to mount with a
guard at 5 o'clock.

Tell Jim that I received four papers

last mail. Referee, Winner, Argus & Sydney
Mail. Some of them I think were sent

by the mail before.
I can assure you that they were very 

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welcome. I put them away in my

bag, like a Jew & devoured them

one by one.

As soon as I finished one, there was a

fight all round, to see who would

get it next.
I was glad to hear of the Mid Park

swimmers success in several events.

Nearly every week, I meet fresh chaps

from down our way & I expect there

will be more & more as the new

lots arrive.
Work continues about the same.

Although we have been out three
nights this week, we have not done

much day work. Indeed we have

to sleep during the day while

night operations are going on.
It is still the same old story about
going away. We are beginning to
think we are here for good. I hope
we shift before the hot weather starts
in earnest.
It is very hot now & the flies are
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almost unbearable. Goodness knows
what it will be like later on.

No matter how hot the day is, the
nights are very cold & this is causing
a good deal of sickness
It seems funny having to wear an

overcoat & scarf at night & nothing

at all hardly during the day.

The two Parkers & Vic Lusic are in
hospital at present, with minor

complaints. Colds & heat rash I
think. Please do not say anything
about this to their people, as
they might think it is serious.
You have to go into hospital for
almost anything here. There is no
other way to treat them.
Last time I mentioned that Vic was
ill, his mother made a great fuss
about it, so please warn the

children to say nothing about it

I had my photo taken again

over at the Pyramids. I am with

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three other chaps, but the Sphynx
& Pyramids are in this one.

I thought you would like a
photo like the one Gordon Sterling
got.

There must have been some

excitement out at Harry's over
the fire. I'll bet the slight one

screamed some.

It is fortunate that is was no
worse.
Well dear Mother I think that is

about the lot this time. I hope
you can read the scribble alright

as I am writing like a steam
engine. I usually leave my letters

till Sunday, but our platoon has
to supply a 24 hrs guard, so I
just had to rush to write this.

I cannot write to Harry or Aunt

Eliza, so if you see them, just [*I DRL 473*]
tell them that I couldn't manage
to write this week
Love to all
from Les

P.S. Well & strong as usual

Egypt
7/4/1915
Dear Jim

I received letters with a vengeance last night. It
was our first mail. I got three cards, two letters from Mum &
one from yourself. Also the Australasian for which I am very
thankful.

I wrote letters at every port & every week since we landed here.
If the letters are not regular, it is the fault of the authorities
& you can tell Mum that I am writing at every opportunity

I am only too glad too write, as it releives my feelings somewhat.

You cannot realize, what it is to be so far away from home

without any idea when you will ever see it again.
When I am doing a two hour sentry stretch in the desert,
where you can positively hear the silence, & all you can see
is a stretch of sand & 3 Pyramids. That is the time one
thinks of home & Mother
I was very glad to hear that Harry has passed his exam.

and I hope that you will be successful in yours.
I am not giving you any news as I have already written
a letter to Mum by this post. I had not received any letters

then.
I hope Papa's illness will not prove serious. Tell him I will write
him a long letter shortly. I hope he has no bad feeling toward

me now. Please remember Vic & I to all boys. Vic sends best wishes to

you.

Love to all from Les

[*I hope you have received

both lots of photos now. 19/4/1915

Love to all

from Les*]

Dear Mother & Father
I received your letter
of 17/3/1915 Also one from Jim & one from

Perce. I have to answer them all in
one short note. You mentioned sending

a medal. I did not get it. It was

not in the envelope. How it got out

I don't know. The envelope was not
broken.

I am glad to hear you are all well, but
sorry that Dad & Harry are not yet
reconciled.

I would have written to Dad, only I

thought the one would do the lot.
I mean them for everybody.
As I said last week, owing to censorship,
I cannot say anything of our

movements. If you do not get news
regularly, you will know that I
cannot write. But you know I can

look after myself. I am still well &
strong and thats everything.
Tell Harry I received his letter but having
no more paper I cannot answer it.

Gallipoli Pen.
10/6/1915
Dearest Mother & Father
As I have been able to borrow some

paper & envelopes, I am taking the opportunity of writing

you a few lines.
As you know, we landed at Gaba Tepe, the day after
your ^Mother's birthday. The Turks weren't exactly pleased to
see us. In fact they resented our intrusion in a
most rude fashion.

As you have no doubt read the account of our

landing, I will say nothing about it, except that we
have got a bit of Turkey & intend to keep it. In
fact I think we will soon have the lot.
Of the five of us from the Society, I am the only one
not wounded. Poor Vic Lusic & Leo Basto are gone.
Bert Tully & Jack Scanlon are both wounded, but
not seriously. Gordon Stirling & Tom Parker were also

wounded, but Tom came back last week. Gordon
was shot in the leg, and I have heard nothing
of him since he went to hospital. His wound is in no

way dangerous.

My only knocks have been a hit on the head from
a piece of earth, thrown up by a 6in shell & a

graze across two fingers.

All the others of our tent are alright except Dick
Banks, who was wounded in the hand.

The first week here was rather trying, but except
for a bad week further down the coast, we have
not done too bad.
We are at present behind the firing line, but

expect to go up in a day or so.

I am in good health, but have lost weight
since landing, but that is only to be expected,

as you know, the food is hardly fattening.
I forgot to say that Vic had very bad luck. He

was shot in the stomach whilst we were
advancing. One of the chaps went back for a

stretcher, but while he was away Vic was shot
again through the head & he was dead when
the stretcher arrived. The same morning he
was very despondent & seemed to think he
would go.
I am now Corporal & separated from all my

pals. All the section are reinforcements.
I received letters & papers up till 21^st April &
there is another mail expected now. The papers

are most welcome, although they are a long way
behind the times, when we get them.
Dear Mother & Father, I think that is all for the
present, so will say goodbye, till I get some more paper.
Love to all from Les.

On active Service
Mrs H. J. Makin
91 Harold Street

Middle Park
Melbourne
Australia
[*1 DRL 473*]

20/6/1915
Dear Mother & Father

As this is a slack hour in the
trenches, I am writing you a few lines to let you
know that I am still alive & well. Things are quiet
to-day, although, at this moment, there are plenty

of shells flying overhead, going both ways.

Please excuse this method of writing, but I assure you

that this card is a gorgeous affair when compared

with some that have been sent. Notepaper is unknown
in this country. I have had no further news of
G Sterling. Tom Parker is well and sends kind regards
He & I and one other are all that represent the M.P.
boys. I receive letters & papers regularly Love from Les.