Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1916 - Part 12

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We are still in a fairly quiet

area, but don't think it

will last very long.

Our people seem determined

to keep up the offensive &

our turn is close up now.

Last weekend I had a

couple of days leave & went 

about 30 miles by train to 

a fair sized French town.

It is quite a change to be

amongst civilian people, even

if they are foreigners & I

had quite a good time.

The object of the trip was

to buy certain necessary

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articles of clothing, but I'm

afraid I bought a lot of 

things which I had not

thought of.

Useful things of course, but

when you haven't been

near a shop for a long 

time, you want to buy

anything which may catch 

your eye.

The diary that Jim sent, 

I have with me now & will

send it at the first opportunity.

The socks & knee caps I also

received safely.

I have heard nothing of

Gordon Sterling since he

left the battalion, except that

he had a job somewhere in

Egypt.

I have enquired for Alick

with his unit, but so far

have been unable to trace

him.

Well dear Mother I think that

is all except that I would

like you to wish Papa

many happy returns of 20/11/16.

This letter ought to reach

you about that date.

Tell the others that I cannot

write this mail

Lots of love

from Les.

[*I DRL 473*]

France

27/10/16

Dearest Mother

I have had

very little opportunity for

letter writing lately, so

you must forgive me.

I know how anxious you

must be in these times,

but I hardly have a 

minute to myself.

I can only say that I am

well at present & hope for

the best, although things

at present here are -

well I can't describe

them.

I don't know whether you

will receive this before

Christmas or not, but I 

send you all the best of

wishes for Christmas &

trust that I will be

with you before the 

next one.

I have wished that wish

now for a couple of 

years & think that I 

will turn up alright

before another year is 

finished.

Best Loves all

from Les.

P.S. No news of Jim

lately.

[*I DRL 473*]

France

28/10/16

Dear Harry

I received a letter

from you about a fortnight back,

but have not had an opportunity

of answering it before now.

I have written very few letters

lately, but only because I am

up to my neck in work.

These are strenuous times

indeed & I believe we are

about to get right in the

thick of it again.

Our people seemed determined

to push their advantage & give

old Fritz no rest.

The days when we sat in a 

trench for months at a time,

seem to be gone & we are

always tearing about the landscape

these days.

We are now not far from where

Jim got smacked. A few miles

to the right, but I suppose you

will know all about it, by

the time this reaches you.

I have not heard from Jim

for some time, but expect he

is on his way back by now.

I am keeping well, but don't 

like the cold weather we are 

having.

We are at present up to our

knees in mud & the winter has

hardly started.

In case I cannot write another

letter in time for Christmas I

will wish you & Essie all the

good wishes of the season.

Love from Les.

[*I DRL 473*]

France

8/11/16

Dearest Mother

I am wondering

what has become of your letters, as

it is a long time since I had

a line from you.

I know that you always write

& if I don't get letters, I think 

you must be ill.

There is a mail in now I think

& I'm hoping for better luck

this time.

I hope you hear regularly from

Jim, for I have no news of

him at all.

He was on furlough when I

last heard from him.

Conditions here at present are

rather trying. Rain every

day & as cold as "charity."

Mud up to the waist in places

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& I haven't been dry for a fortnight.

The roads & paths are cut to

pieces by traffic & shells & the

front line is a running stream.

I am usually pretty cheerful

under most circumstances,

but I positively shudder when

I think of the winter ahead.

Egypt with its heat would 

be welcome now.

We are out of the trenches

for a few days & are at present

in tents.

I had four blankets last 

night & shivered all night.

You will think I am getting

discouraged, but I will get

used to it alright, because

I must. Another week or two

& I will be as happy as a real

mudlark.

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Tom Parker is alright. Dick

Banks is away again with a

sprained ankle.

Gordon Sterling is down at

the base & will be up any 

day now.

I don't know whether he will

rejoin the 5^th or not. I heard

he was trying to join the

1^st Pioneer Battn as his chum

Harding is a Sgt in that

unit.

On the road from the trenches

the other day, five Mid Park

boys met.

Myself, T. Parker, H. Timbs, B. Thompson,

& C. Clarke. We had about

five minutes chat & then all

had to get about their work.

I suppose that by the time you