Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1916 - Part 10

France 
8/7/1916

Dearest Mother

 I haven't any idea when the mail

goes, but it is some time since I last wrote.

Owing, I suppose to my change of address I have 

had no letters from you or Jim for about six

weeks.

Keep sending my letters to Aust Military Offices

London, as they know my address & will send

them on.

Things are very quiet here. I am still waiting to

be sent up the line. After this offensive, there

should be plenty of vacancies, so I should not

be here long now.

My old company commander is in charge of

this base. You remember the captain, who was

in that "Herald" photo with me. He is down here

for a rest from the firing line.

He was very pleased to see me & we have had

some interesting talks about past experiences.

He has promised to take me back with him

when he goes.
I have absolutely no news, as we are far from
civilization here. Best love to all from Les.

 

France
13/7/1916

Dearest Mother

Since last writing I have received

two letters. One from Harry & one from Ruby dated

16/5/16. The letters written since the middle of 

April & that date are probably chasing me 

round the various places I have passed 

through since leaving England.

Yesterday, I was shifted from the base & am

now just behind the firing line, engaged

on work, of which I can give you no

particulars.

I hope to rejoins my unit very soon & I want

you to send my letters to the old address.

5^th. Battn A.I.F. France. That will find me

alright.

I have had no news from Jim at all, since I

left England. Of course this is due to me

shifting about such a lot.
I have no news except that I am very fit

& with a lot of very good chaps. Since my

arrival in France I have had a quiet, enjoyable
time. Best love to all from Les.
[[*R.S.Hoon ?*]]

somewhere near mine.
I am in the best of health & 

trust that active service is 

agreeing with you.

I've been thinking a good deal

about you & must confess to

being a bit anxious about you

during all this "strafe."

I've had no letters from home 

or you for a long time, due

I expect to my shifting about 
such a lot.

Well dear old boy, I will say 

goodbye, hoping to see you very

soon.

I have met a lot of 21^st boys, who

recognized me by the likeness

between us.

Good luck & best wishes

from Les 
1DRL

473

Belgium

26/7/1916

Dear Jim

I don't know whether
you have received my other letters

or not, but if you are still with

the battn you are sure to get

this.

An officer of your battn is taking

this letter up with him.

He leaves tomorrow morning & 

I leave the next day.

I left Etaples some time back,

but the battn had shifted, so

we have been kept here digging

trenches, pits etc.

However, in a couple of days I

will have rejoined & I'm 

hoping that your battn is

France
2/8/16
Dearest Mother

I have received quite a 

bundle of letters lately. The last two

were dated 13 & 19 June.

I have had very little opportunity of

writing lately, so you must not

think I am neglecting you, for I would

like to write every day if possible.

I have rejoined the Battn & am now

Lewis Machine Gun Officer & just now I am

so busy that I have hardly time to 

sleep.

Added to my other responsibilities, I now

have a horse to master. I have been 

riding him these last couple of nights

& for a start, its real hard work.

Can you imagine me on horseback

at the head of my section. Some 

swank, as Ruby would say.

 

I have not yet met Jim, but have been

very unlucky as just before I rejoined

he was at the battn asking for me.

Several chaps have given me messages

from him & I feel cheerful now that

I know he is alright, for I must

confess I was getting rather anxious

about him.

However, the longer I am separated

from him, the greater will be the

pleasure, when we do finally meet.

Dear Mum, you understand, that I

cannot say much about things here.

All I can say is that I have

received your letters & that I am

in the best of health.

Tell Harry, Ruby & Gertie that I have
received their letters, but cannot

answer them just now.

Tons of love to all

from Les.

 

France
9/8/1916

Dear Harry

I hope you don't think I

have been neglecting you, because for

the last few weeks we've been "going 

some", & expect to go some more in 

a day or two.
As you no doubt know, I have been

very unlucky in my efforts to strike

Jim.

Well, last night our battalion

camped about a mile from the 21^st

& I was full of excitement over the

prospect of meeting him.

Imagine my disappointment when

I found that he was in hospital.

Don't be alarmed, if he is posted

wounded, as he is only suffering

from slight shell shock. (1/8/16)
 

2
I found out from a chap who was in 

the same dugout with him.

The shell struck the parapet above

& although Jim was untouched, the

shock dazed him for a time.

I think it is the best thing that

could have happened as he will

have a rest & probably miss the

severe work that is still ahead

of us.

I am again with the battn & happier

than I have been for months.

I have met a lot of old pals, who I

never expected to see again & their 
welcome was very touching.

I was immediately made ^Lewis Machine

Gun Officer of the battn & I now

have a horse to get about on.
It is a very great improvement to

marching with full pack up.
 

3

The previous M.G.O. was killed just
before I joined, and I just fitted

nicely into the vacancy.

I have received a lot of letters 

of various dates & now I expect to

get my mail regularly.

I have forgotten your address for

the time being & am sending

this note care of Mum.

The weather over here has been

very warm lately, but I have
enjoyed it. I think our boys

prefer the heat to the cold any
day.

The country too looks splendid

& the crops are just being gathered

in.

The only fly in the ointment now

is the cursed Bosches & they are
getting it in the neck.
 

4

We have got them in a pretty

rotten frame of mind now & 

they are fighting like rats at

bay.

If they have a clear run, they

will scoot, but when cornered

some of them put up a decent

scrap.

Its certainly a great satisfaction 

to be fighting an enemy that

you can hate. I had nothing

much against old Johnnie

Turk, but the smell of a 

German makes my hair

bristle like a dog's.

Well, Harry, I leave it to you

to assure Mother, that Jim is

not even scratched & that at

present he is well & well looked 

after. 

Love to all from Les.

 

2.

I suppose you have read all about

the recent fighting.

I cannot give you any details

in this letter, but it was hotter

than anything I have struck

before.

I missed the first stage, but was
well in the second act & my 

luck still holds good.

I did not get a scratch & beyond

being buried & suffering the

usual inconveniences I got 

through alright.

I have not heard of any further

casualties among the boys that

you know.

I had another letter from Jim

last week. He is getting alright
but was then still in hospital.

Dr Gibson & a few of my

France

27/8/1916

Dearest Mother

Since last writing

I have received your letter dated

26/6/1916.

We don't get many opportunities

of letter writing these days, but

I am making the best of a few

days rest now.

We have just come out of the

trenches after about 10 days of 

very hot work.

I was over the ground where Jim

was knocked out. It was close

up near a cemetery, so he was

lucky to get out of it.

However I think we are due

for a spell or at least a

quieter time than we have
been having.