Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1916 - Part 11

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English friends are looking after 

him, so you have no need to

worry on his account.

You can bet he will have a

good time, before he comes 

back.

A lad like Jim will find plenty 

of interest in England.

He wants to transfer to this 

battn, but I don't know that

it would be wise.

I am thinking it over & will

do what I consider the right

thing.

I have received a couple of

parcels lately containing

socks & knee pads.

Tell Ruby & the others that I

will write to them soon,

when I have more time to spare.

Excuse short letter, but really

all one can say is that he 

is in good health & received 

your letters alright. 

Love to all

from Les.

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Of course we have had to pay 

for won ground, but there are

still a lot of the old boys going

strong.

I don't know if you ever heard 

of Harold Gray, who went to the 

Duntroon College.

In the old days he was a chum 

of mine & was promoted to 

commissioned rank at Gallipoli.

Unfortunately he was killed

in the stunt, but he died 

gloriously in the thick of it.

I am sure that the Germans 

are now badly rattled & the 

prisoners taken are all more

or less scared out of their wits.

The artillery is awful on both

sides, but Fritz gets a good

[*I DRL 473*] 

In the Field

30/8/1916

Dear Harry

It is some time since 

I wrote to you, & I expect you 

think I am getting a bit tired 

of writing.

That is not the case, for

I have only had time lately to 

scribble a few lines to Mother.,

who is, as you know my first

consideration

Well, to begin with, I got back to

the battn to take part in the

great offensive, although I missed

the first few days.

As you have no doubt read, the

work was very hot, but our boys

have earned more praise, by 

their courage & determination

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deal more than he gives us.

Sometimes we have to sit in

the trenches under a heavy

bombardment.

This is a great strain on the 

nerves, even if you are not

hit, and when our artillery

opens up in retaliation & you

hear the shells screaming

overhead, then you feel

bucked up wonderfully.

You then think of the Huns,

crouching in their trenches,

& undergoing something

about half as bad again

as that which you had been 

through.

I have not rejoined B. Company 

but am now Lewis Machine Gun 

4

Officer of the battn.

I am rather interested in the 

work & it is a change from

the ordinary.

In the long marches that are

inevitable at this game, a 

horse is very welcome & I have

been very thankful for mine,

on several occasions.

I suppose you have heard from

Jim, about his being put out 

of action.

It is nothing serious, more shell

shock than anything else.

I have received two letters from 

him & he is getting on alright.

Several of my English friends have

called on him & be sure he will

be looked after.

Love to Essie yourself & Baby

from Les.

15/9/1916

Dearest Mother

I have no letter

of yours to answer just now, so

I ^am writing just to say that I

am still enjoying good health

& as happy as one can be in

this country at this time of

the year.

The weather lately has been

rather rotten, but today is

nice & fine.

We are at present in the

trenches & I am writing this

in my dugout.

The bombing officer & myself

share the one little home.

I cannot say where we are

but we have had a shift

lately.

You will know where we have

been, by reading the papers.

As usual the battn was in

the thickest part, but I

only arrived in time to

take part in the second 
stage.

However, I had just as much

as I wanted & am glad to

be in a quieter part of the

line.

I hope you are not worrying

over Jim, because he's only

shaken up & he was very

lucky to get off so lightly.

Best love to all

from Les.

[*P.S. 16/9/16

Have just received your letter of 31/7/16

Will answer later. Previous mail not yet in*]

Belgium

4/10/16

Dearest Mother

I have not written

for about a fortnight & must

plead work as my excuse.

We are out of the trenches just

now & we are busier out than

in.

When in the trenches & there

is nothing special on, all you

have to do is defend them.

If the Germans are quiet there

is not very much to do.

When we come out, there are

hundreds of jobs to do, refitting

& getting ready for our next

turn in.

The weather is rather wet just

at present, but the cold weather

has not set in yet.

My promotion to Lieut from 2^nd Lieut

came through on Ruby's birthday.

Another coincidence in connection

with the family birthdays.

Another strange thing has happened.

Nearly 18 months ago I lost

my identity disc at Anzac.

The other day, it was handed

to me by the Adjutant.

He told me it was found amongst

the effects of the boys killed at

Pozieres.

I expect the poor chap, whoever

he was had found it & forgot

to hand it on to me.

I had a letter from Jim yesterday.

He is out of hospital & has been

flying about over England &

Ireland.

I don't know how long his 
furlough lasts, but I think he

will be in camp by now.

He will be over here before long

I expect, and as his battn

seems to be quartered

permanently near us, I will

be able to see him often.

I think we will have a quiet

time for a while, but as our

people seem intent on keeping

up the offensive, I expect

our turn will come again.

Harry Timbs of Maid Park joined

the 5^th about a month ago.

I asked him to join my

Machine Gun section.

He did so & seems interested

in the work.

You can tell his mother or

people if you see them that 
he is well & alright.

Well dear Mother I think that

is all the news.

I'm afraid my letters must

compare very badly with Jim's,

but the only news I know is

connected with war & I hate

talking about that.

Best love to all

from Les.

[*P.S. No Aust mail

in lately. Have not

had a letter for a

month*]

France

11/10/16

Dearest Mother

Your letter of 16/8/16

to hand. Letters seem to take

longer to come nowadays.

It was the first mail for a

long time.

At the time of writing you did

not know about Jim.

I hope you are not worrying

over him dear Mother for he

is a very lucky boy.

He is quite well again & will

be over here again soon.

I am still going strong & in

the best of health.