Correspondence from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1914-1915 - Part 10

London
14/12/1915 
Dear Harry 
It seems ages since I have written to 
you, but I expect you got my news from Mother. 
This last couple of months, I have only been able to 
scribble a few lines to Mum. I am sure you understand 
that my letters to Mother are for all. 
Well, old boy I have had a pretty rotten time lately. 
After the fever had run its course, it left me weak 
as a cat, and even now my legs are shaky, although 
I am almost up to weight. 
I left Lemnos by the great Cunarder "Aquatania" 
the magnificent hospital ship, which carries about 
5000 cases per trip. 
After having a few meals on board, I began to 
buck up, and arrived in England a new 
man. We arrived at Southhampton in a 
typical London fog. It has rained every day 
since up till yesterday. Now it is clear & cold 
with ice on the ground & the water in the horse 
troughs frozen. But strangely enough I do 
not feel the cold as I expected. 
I am now at Wandsworth, not far from 
London (4^d per bus) in the No 3 London General 
Hospital. I am in a ward full of jolly  

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Australian officers who are all old friends.
One of them is from my own company. We are
allowed absolute freedom & take full advantage
of the privilege. I have seen some of the sights
of London & am going to see more this week.
I was at the revue "Betty" last night & 
thoroughly enjoyed myself. Ivy Shilling, who by
the way, now spells her name without the
"c"., was there & danced as well as ever.
The trouble about this place is that one has
to keep up appearances. For instance it is
against Kings Regs. to go into London without
stick, gloves & Sam Brown belt & I have a
little tailors bill of £30 to meet to-day.
If you saw me going out, you would surely
be glad to claim me as a relation. Some
class I tell you. And also, one has to dine
at the best places & take the best seats at 
the shows (11/6 res. stalls). And by Jove, how I
wish I had learned French. Thank goodness
I picked up enough in Cairo, to prevent me
from being a muff altogether.
People will insist on being good to us. Lady
this & Lady that are always asking us to tea
& by the time you have patted all the little
dogs & put away a thimble full of tea, you
 

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begin to wish you were back in the trenches.
But, all the same, the people here are all
very good. There are motor cars always at
our disposal & club rooms & recreation rooms
are everywhere. We have a splendidly fitted
billiard room here, & I have quite retained
my old form. I am easily boss of our ward.
I have to complete three weeks in this
hospital, while they take blood tests etc.
Then I go before a Medical Board, who
grant me so much leave. After my
holiday, I go before the board again &
then if fit and well, back to business.
The last letter, I got from home was
dated 7^th Sept & by Jove I do miss my 
letters. I am cabling an address home
today, where you may write to me while I 

am here.

Well Harry, I think this will do for this 

mail. While I am here I will write

regularly & will also send Essie some 

postcards.
Best love to yourself Essie & baby

from Les.
P.S. Is it too late to wish you the happiest

of New Years.
 

[*P.S.
I am sending you

some cards I had sent

to me. Will you 

keep them for me.

Les.*]

3^rd. London General Hosp

Wandsworth

25^th London S.W.

Dearest Mother & Father
I have been wondering what 

sort of a Christmas you have spent this year.
All day Saturday I was thinking of you all &

although we had everything we wanted I could

not help feeling homesick.

Our ward was decorated with flowers & palms &

we had a Christmas tree & everything else that 

goes to make an English Christmas.

We had dinner in the centre of the ward &

it was quite a good feed.
One of the chaps tried to take several photos

of the group, but always at the critical moment
somebody would giggle, so I am afraid they
are spoilt.

I was wondering if you had Jim for Christmas.
You see, when I last heard from you, he had
just gone into camp.

I am writing now to see if they will forward my
letters on. I do miss them so much & I am quite
anxious to hear some news from Melbourne.

I think I told you that the last letter I
got from you was dated Sept. 7^th. 

What do you think of the evacuation of Anzac.
Just think of the wasted lives of all our poor
boys. And I suppose their graves will all
be desecrated by the fanatical Turk.
I see by this morning's paper, that they
have returned to Egypt. I wonder where
the next scrap will be & if I can get back
in time. It will be over two months before
I can rejoin. In fact I will be lucky if its
not longer. I think they are short of
transports, as some of the boys have been

waiting quite a long time to get back.

The weather here is very wet, but we have had
no snow to speak of yet. It rained all day
Christmas day & ever since.

We had lots of invitations to Christmas
dinner including one from Lord Northcliffe &
one from Sir Geo. Reid. Only a few went

however & we all preferred a good old feed
in the ward. I am sure it is better than

the usually stiffly formal way of Society.

I am keeping well, but am suffering from the
after affects of my complaint. Loss of memory to a

certain extent is one of my troubles, so you must
forgive this awful letter as I feel quite stupid.
Best love to all
from Les.