Correspondence from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1914-1915 - Part 8

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from the Peninsula.

We are in a rest camp on Lemnos

Island, but it is only a rest from

actual warfare, as we are again

building up in drill etc.

It is quite a new force to the one

which sailed on the 21^st Oct nearly

12 months ago.  All the dear faces

are missing. Casualties & sickness

have claimed a terrible percentage

of our division.

My own health has been remarkable.

I have also had the best of luck

right through. I have been three

times wounded. Each time very

trifling. I did not like to mention

it before, as perhaps you would have

thought I was suffering.

At present I am in the best of health

& am putting on some condition

again. We are getting extra food

Lemnos

15/9/1915

Dear Jim,

I received your letter dated 27/7/1915.

I cannot say that I am pleased to hear

the you had enlisted.

No doubt, if you are fit, as I am quite

sure you are, it is your duty to come,

but I would have rather had you stay

with our Mother.

I hate to think what would happen if

anything happened to Papa.

However, I expect that was too much to

ask. I know you are anxious to

take your part in the great

struggle, but I pray God you dont

have to go through what I have

been through. I cannot speak of it

here.

You will see by the address that

we have at last been withdrawn 

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as we are really worn out & to some

extent run down.

The nerves begin to feel the strain

of 20 weeks of the sort of fighting

we've been in.

You will be glad to hear that

I have got a commision. I am

now a Second Lieutenant in my

old company. I would not care

to leave B. after all this time.

I am a platoon commander &

it is the most responsible job I

have tackled so far.

My rise has been rather rapid

& I expect I was a Lieut before

you knew I was a sergeant.

Well Jim the cencorship is still

on, & I find it hard to find

news.

I expect by the time you get

this you will have been in

FILE N9 12/11/1555  LT G L MAKIN

camp some time. You will go through

practically the same process as

we went through. You will also visit

the same places.

I dont know that I can give you 

any advice. As regards fast living

you dont need warning. You are

one of the cleanest livers I know.

I dont think you will change

much. If ever you contemplate

any wrong think of your dear

mother, who has grown so very dear

to me. I know I am the last in

the world to offer advice to anybody,

but since I left home I have led

a clean good life & I know you 

will never do anything that would

cause mother any worry.

Well dear Jim I will so say

goodbye, trusting we may meet

somewhere near the line in the

future.

Your brother Les.

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spares nobody.

Being in the A.M.C. Jim may not have

to face the same perils as the infantry man,

although our Ambulance men suffered

severely in the initial stages of our

campaign.

I cannot help hoping that he will be

allotted to some base hospital, well away

from the scene of action.

But I expect he is as anxious as we

were to get into it. After what I have

seen I think the best policy is to let it

come to you. I know quite a lot of

fellows, who, after being wounded on

the first day, rushed back to the

trenches at the first opportunity.

They were not there long before you

heard the remark "I wish I had not

left Malta or Alexandria".

We, who were there all the time, did

not feel the strain so much.

1DRL/0473

Lemnos

21/9/1915

Dearest Mother & Father,

Since I last wrote I have

received quite a number of letters from you. Yours

of 4^th and 10^th July August, One from Jim dated

11^th August & Gertie's letter of 2^nd August.

They take about 5 weeks to get here, sometimes

longer.

I cannot say I am glad to hear that Jim

has enlisted. I suppose he is doing the

right thing, but I hate to think of him

leaving dear peaceful Melbourne & going

to the shambles we have just left.

I also hate to think of him leaving you

dear mother, for I know he has been a

great comfort to you in your hour of

trial.

But I suppose you are much more

reconciled now, as by this time you

must know that a war like this one

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Strangely enough, we left the

Peninsula on Ruby's birthday. You

will remember we left Mena on my

21^st.

The weather here at present is nice &

mild, but I anticipate a very cold

winter.

We are drilling & squaring up every day.

I expect we will soon be back in

the trenches. I am not looking forward

 to a winter on Gallipoli. We have yet

to be tried in cold weather.

If you care to send any more parcels

I think they will arrive alright.

I have had no trouble with mine yet.

I would like you to send me a pipe.

I have plenty of tobacco at present, but

my pipe is about done. It is the

one that Papa gave me the Christmas

before last.

We are disappointed, at not being 

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sent to Egypt.

This place is hardly a change. We

are practically confined to camp as

there is nowhere to go. Only a few

villages & they are absolutely uninteresting.

We are all dying for the sight &

noise of civilization.

Well, dear people I think that is all

the news this mail so will close

with love to all,

From your loving son,

Les.

P.S. I received a P.C. from Aunt Eliza

I have forgotten her address, so will

you tell her I got it & give her my

love.

Les.

No 18 Stationary Hospital

Lemnos

14/10/1915

Dearest Mother & Father,

I have received two letters from you since last I

wrote, the latest of which dated 1/9/1915 I received yesterday.

You will be surprised to see that I am in hospital. At last my

hard old stomach has given in. I am suffering from an attack

of Enteric fever. I am through the worst part now & expect to be

convalescent  soon. As I had been inoculated against this disease 

it has not been very hard on me.

I have had nothing to eat for a week now, so I am feeling

a bit weak, otherwise I am O.K.

Its rather bad luck for me taking bad, while we were resting

I suppose the battalion will be going back shortly & I will have

missed my rest. However, this is, I suppose a sort of a rest & I

will make the most of it.

You were asking after several people in your last letter. M^r. Kelly &

Tom Parker are like myself both in hospital with minor complaints

The married man never left Melbourne to my knowledge.  We

dropped him at Broadmeadows & Tiny the big chap got

cold feet before we left Mena & went home.

Well dear people, its hard to make news lying on your back &

Its also very hard to write. Tell Ruby & Percy that I owe

both of them letters, but cannot write at present

Best love to all

from Les.

P.S. I received the wattle which I am keeping.

1 DRL 473
On Active Service
[*DPS Lt*]

Mrs H. J. Makin

91 Harold Street,

Middle Park

Melbourne

Australia

Lemnos

16/10/1915

Dear Harry

I received your letter of 2/9/1915 and am pleased to hear things

are alright with you. I am sorry to tell you that I am at

present in hospital suffering from an attack of Enteric fever.

In other words Typhoid.

Owing to my having been inoculated, the attack is not

severe, although I have had nothing to eat since I came

here. Over a week now. You will understand that I am

very weak & am writing lying down, so please forgive

scrawl.

I have no idea how long I will be ill, but I hope to get

something to eat shortly.

Well Harry, I am not attempting to give you any news. I am

merely acknowledging your letter. Its all I feel able to. 

Love to yourself & Essie

from Les.

P.S. I am in an English field Hospital & am well treated

GLM.

1 DRL473

On Active Service
[*DPS Lt*]

Mr. H. B. Makin

152 Riversdale Road

Auburn

Melbourne

Australia

P.S. Tell Papa I sincerely wish him many happy

returns of 20/11/'15.  I quite forgot it last mail.

Les.
In Hospital

Lemnos

24/10/1915

Dearest Mother

As I am away from the battalion I

have not received any letters this mail. I may get

them sent on, but probably I will not get any till I

rejoin. I am getting on fine & hope to be

convalescent very soon. They have started to feed

me now. I get a plate of arrowroot and two

boiled eggs per day. I feel as if I could eat

a bullock. What wouldn't I give for one of your

Sunday dinners. This is Sunday too.

Most likely I will shortly be sent away from

here. They say I should have gone to England

by the Aquatania last Monday. However I

may go by the next boat. At all events its

pretty certain that I will go either to England or

Alexandria. I will be glad to see civilisation

again, although I am not too keen on going to

England as its winter there now & I'm afraid I

would not like the cold.

Well dear Mother I'm afraid this short note is all

I can write. There is absolutely no news. Please

don't worry about me, as my attack was very mild,

& I'm feeling first class.

Love to all 

from Les.

1 DRL
473
On Active Service
[*DPS Lt*]

Mrs. H. J. Makin

91 Harold Street

Middle Park

Melbourne

Australia