Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 14

6
nobody is downhearted. The theatres
& other places of amusement are
packed with people every night &
no some of the better plays are booked
a month ahead.
The Air raids have not caused any
one much worry. When the warning
is given everybody dives for shelter,
& after it is over carry on as if
nothing had happened.
I don't know whether all this war
news will interest you dear Mother
but there doesn't seem much else
to talk about.
I haven't written to Ruby or the
others for some time, but I'm sure
they all know that my letters
are meant for all, just as I know
that their love & good wishes come
with yours.
Tons of Love & kisses
from Les.
1 DRL473 

2
said that I didn't think the
Germans had a good push left
in them.
That must now sound rather
funny, seeing what they have
done.
What I meant was that they
couldn't make a successful
one, & I think that still
holds good, for while we have
had to give ground in face
of overwhelming numbers, the
price they have paid in lives
is too great to call it a
victory for them, especially
as the ground they have
gained is the old torn up
battlefield of 1916-17, & not

Sandhill Camp
8/4/1918
Dearest Mother
I've been going to
write you every day for the
past fortnight, but there has
been some Australian mail
filtering through, & I've been
expecting a letter. So far no
luck, not even one for my
birthday. My latest is one
dated early in Jan, but some
of the boys have them a month
later than that.
The post office people in London
are probably still sending them
to the battn, in spite of my
letters to them.
In my last letter to you, I 

 3
much use to either side except 
as a cemetery.
All the graves of the boys who
fell at Pozieres are now in
the hands of the Germans, as
well as the monument erected
on the site of the village.
They have by now, I expect
been branded with the usual
signs of "Kultur".
We are all standing by here,
ready to go over at a minute's
notice, & I expect we will be
wanted very soon.
This open warfare is much
more interesting than the old
trench business, & particularly

4
to Australians, who know the
Somme front so well.
I've been out of action for the
last few weeks with a sprained
ankle.
I was going up to town with
the football team from this
depöt to play Jim's team
at H.Q, but met with an
accident at practice & was
very disappointed at missing
the trip.
Otherwise I'm quite O.K, & hope
you are all well at home.
I quite forgot to wish you many
happy returns of the 24^th in my
last letter, but you know I
shall be thinking of you on
that day & hoping the same

5
old hope, that this is the last
birthday on which we shall
be separated.
It's Harry's today, & I wish him
everything that is good & lots
of luck as well.
I had a letter from Jim a
couple of days back & he is
"fed up" with Horseferry Rd,
& still wants me to take
him to the 5^th, but
I'm not going to do anything
just at present.
I want him to stay there
for your sake, but can
understand how he feels,
for these base camps & 

6
offices are no good, because they
are run by a clique of "cold
footers" who have a good time,
& do their best to see that
nobody outside that clique
gets anything worth while.
I've always maintained
that the battn is the best
place, for that's where all
the good chaps are to be
found, doing their best
in the common cause &
not making their own jobs
"comfy".
I'll write again as soon as I
receive your letter which is bound
to turn up in a day or two
Tons of Love to all
from Les.
1 DRL473

2
been kept going pretty strong
since the German offensive
started.
Latest news from the front
is very cheerful. Our boys
have done remarkably
well, with surprisingly
small casualties to
themselves.
This semi open warfare
suits our men much
better than the trench
business & it's just my
luck to be here at such
a time.
I'm due to go back next
month, and I suppose
all the good times will

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH
MILITARY FORCES
Sandhill Camp
3/5/18
Dearest Mother
I have received
several letters from you since
last writing, the latest
being 11/3/18, which is quite
recent considering the
state of the mails.
I don't know whether I've
missed any mails lately,
but I know I haven't
written as often as I
would like.
Just lately I've been busier
than I ever was in France.
We draft all men for the
front here, & we've 

3
be over.
It will probably surprise you
to know that there are
any good times with such
an offensive going on,
but so far, either by good
luck or leadership, our
divisions have only had
the job of shooting down
Huns, without being overrun
by numbers, as were
some of the English divisions
at the opening of the
fight.
Anyway the ground we have
lost is nothing as long as
we hold the Channel ports
safely, & I think they
4
will do that now, although
things looked bad at one
time.
Isn't it extraordinary that
this slaughter can go on
day after day for years,
and still show no signs
of finishing.
It beats me & I'll give up
the question as to when
it will be over.
I received that London address
alright, & will use it if
necessary, as it will be
ever so much better than
cabling.
You were asking about
parcels. I think I have
received most of them up

6
I never get any papers, so don't
send any more. Jim Crow
sends me the Referee every
week & I haven't got one
for about a year.
I'm very glad to know that
Gordon Sterling has arrived
home safely.
Is he to be discharged. I
sincerely hope he has
finished with this part of
the war anyhow.
He is one of the finest boys,
I've ever come in contact
with & his Mother should
be a proud & happy woman
now she has him back.
Dick Banks went back
to France this week. I
[*1 DRL473*]
5
AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH
MILITARY FORCES
to date, although I daresay
one or two have gone west.
I haven't received the
birthday one yet, but that
may turn up any day.
They always take longer
than letters.
I didn't send you anything
for yours dear Mother, but
I expect if I had, it would
have been torpedoed.
But you shall have one a
present for every birthday
I've missed, when I come
home again.

7
had to go to the station to
see my draft off, & I was
able to see him away.
He is well & glad to be
going back. Like me, he
looks on the battn as his
home, till we can use
our real one again.
I'm glad to say I'm feeling
very fit & don't think I'll
be troubled with any more
fever, so don't you worry
your dear head over me.
I've complained a lot
lately, but I've been
frightfully "fed up".
I'm merry & bright now,
& will be none the
8
worse when I start being
a real soldier again.
Charlie Parker is in one
of the camps round here,
but I avoid him, for
I never did have any
time for him.
Well dear Mother I'll have 
to stop now, so goodbye
with fondest love to you
all from Les.
P.S. Tell Papa that Rafferty
is quite O.K, & that there
is nothing in the 5^th
that he can't beat,
with or without.
Les. 

Sandhill Camp
England
26/5/18
My dearest Mother
I have just received
letters from you dated 24^th & 30^th
March. I have also received
the birthday box, which has
taken so long to reach me, but
of course is none the less welcome
for that.
I think I told you that I'm
nearly certain that I have
received nearly all the things
you have sent, except papers.
I was lucky with your parcels
but Miss Crow's went astray.
I'm glad to know that Gertie
has gone to Traralgon. She