Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 15

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is sure to have a good time, for

all the Crow family are awfully

nice people & Jim is my best 

friend.

His sister Jess has written to me

almost without missing a mail,

& I know she has tons of other

letters to write.

My six months of duty here are

just finished, but owing to the 

offensive, no relief has yet been

sent across.

I'm very tired of this place & 

almost ashamed to be over here

so long, but I've done my best 

to get back, without success.

Our people were not very heavily

engaged during Fritz's last

 

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push, but are sure to be well in

the next when it comes along.

As it must come very soon it

may be some comfort to you, to

know that I won't be in it.

I'm not sure that it matters

much anyway, for I'm a

fatalist & believe that if I'm

to go, I'll go just when the

right time comes, push or no

push.

I don't know whether you know

how disappointed I was, when

I missed my captaincy last 

year, so I'll tell you all about 

it, & you will agree that

my luck was right out.

 

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To get promotion in any unit, there

first must be a vacancy, as each

has a definite establishment.

In Feb '17, there was a vacancy

in the 5^th & as senior Lieut, I 

was recommended. Before it

came through however, 1 Major

& several Captains came back

after absences of anything up to

two years.

This of course filled the vacancy

& I crashed. Since then the

position has grown steadily

worse, as fresh officers come

back, so I am really further

back than I was 15 months ago.

 

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I don't mind, for I don't want 

anyone to be killed just to get

promotion, but I thought I

would tell you about it, as you

may have wondered why I 

didn't get it after expecting it,

for so long.

I'm feeling pretty fit again now,

& much more cheerful as the

cold weather has passed, but

I'm very homesick dear Mother,

for I haven't so much enthusiasm

for soldiering now that promotion

is so very hard to get.

As each year goes past without

any sign of the end, I sometimes almost

give up hope of ever seeing

you all again. But most

 

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times I am cheerful enough & 

happy in a way.

I know how you must feel about

it too & you've really been a

most wonderful Mother all through.

Always very brave & cheerful

& with such absolute faith in

your prayers for us.

I haven't any news at all dear

Mother. Jim is well & I hope

to see him one day next week.

Anyhow I'm sure to see him again

before I go across.

Fondest love to all

from Les.

 

Sandhill Camp

13/6/18

Dearest Mother

I have just received

your letter of 19/4/18 written from

Ballarat.

I had no idea till it came, that

Mick Phillips had been killed.

Evidently it happened just at the

opening of the German offensive,

but I don't know now what

unit he was with, as I think 

he transferred a couple of times.

Your letter arrived just as I got

my warning for overseas. You

wont be glad to know that I

will be with my unit in two

weeks time, but don't worry

dear Mother for I am as

 

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confident as ever & am very fed

up with this place.

I was getting ashamed of putting

England on my letters, for I 

have been away from the battn

so long.

In spite of the German successes,

none of which have been against

Australian troops, our boys are

in wonderful spirits & have 

had surprisingly few casualties

in the recent fighting.

The Germans seem to be sparing

no effort to try & crush the

Allies before the full weight

of America's help is felt, but

everyone is confident of

the ultimate end of things.

 

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I daresay you must wonder how

it is, that Germany can advance

the way she does, but don't

forget that they pay heavily

for every foot of ground taken,

& territory will count so little

in the final reckoning that it

is better for us to retire than

to waste life holding ground

that is reduced to pulp.

It is man power that will 

eventually win us the war for

in these days of modern artillery

& mechanical machines of 

destruction, all that is wanted

is numbers, for against such

weapons, the individual doesn't

count, except in rare cases,

when initiative & bravery

 

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may influence the result of a

battle.

I'm glad to know that Perce is

doing well & that Gertie had a 

nice time in Traralgon.

I was sure she would, for I 

know that Jim Crow would do

all in his power to make her

stay enjoyable. He has been a

very staunch friend of mine, ever 

since I met him, & is "white"

in every sense of the word.

I haven't any news dear Mother

but will write again before I

leave.

With fondest love to all

from Les.

 

Sandhill Camp

24/6/1918

Dearest Mother 

Your letter dated 8/4/18

to hand safely.

Gertie had just arrived back 

from Traralgon.

I'm glad to know she had such

a nice time down there.

I felt she sure she would enjoy 

herself & hope you will let 

her go down again.

I'm surprised to hear that Jess

Crow seemed unhappy about 

her fiancé, for I had no idea

that things were not going 

right.

I've only met him once, so don't