Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 4

3
On the way back to the battn
every step was painful & then
next day straight into the
trenches.
I thought it very hard at
the time, but the war makes
one used to disappointments,
& I have quite got over it now.
Leave may start again soon,
but it may not be on again
for a month or so.
But the longer it is delayed,
then when it does come, the
pleasure will be all the
greater, so for the present I
am just hoping.
Jim is well & is having a
good time by all accounts.
No other news now, but will
write as soon as I get some
paper.   Love to all from Les. 

France
8/3/1917
Dearest Mother
We are out of the
line now, but, I am sorry to
say, the mail closed three days
ago.
I am not sure that I got any
letters away by it or not, for
these days we do not get much
information about mails.
I have letters from you dated
8^th & 15^th.  Jan.
You are asking after quite a
lot of people, so I will deal
with them first. 

2
As regards Ern. Tully, I have heard
most awful rumours about him,
but do not know anything
definite.
From all accounts, he seemed
to have lost his reason.
Norman Spence is over here with
the 3^rd Division. He has a good
safe job, so his mother need not
worry.
Gordon Sterling is alright. He
volenteered for a raid & came
through it splendidly, with
hardly a scratch.
I believe he has been
3
recommended for a commission.
I think he will get it alright.
If he does & is posted to this
battn, I will be able to help
him along.
Tom Parker is in England again.
He is sick, but I don't know
his complaint.
Dick Banks is here, well & strong
& a Corporal.
Alick Phillips is in the Transport
Section of a Battn of the 5^th
Division.
As far as I know, he is alright.
I still hear regularly from 

4
Jim. He appears to be having
a good time with Dr. Gibson.
I have not got my leave yet
& I am beginning to think
it has stopped for good, as
the offensive will be starting
soon.
I am very disappointed over
it, but of course my feelings
do not count for much in
this business.
I see you have been talking
to Barney Woods.
What is keeping him from 

5
enlisting. He's a big strong
chap & I can think of nothing
that prevents him from coming
over.
If he is still in plain clothes,
again when you see him
again, tell him I was
asking why he did not
enlist.
As regards the Sister Susie
business.
The English girls have a
great advantage over the
girls out home, for they are 

6
right here & not thousands
of miles away.
Then again, if a man is
wounded & gets to England,
after being away & not
seeing an English speaking
girl for six or twelve months,
he is likely to fall in love
with the first girl he sees.
The English girls are very
serious rivals for any girls
in the world, but of
course I think our own
are unbeatable.
7
There are very few boys who
like myself, have no girl
friends at home.
Almost all the boys write
to some girl & when
censoring letters you get to
know how the land lies.
There must be thousands of
girls out there, waiting
anxiously for their boys, &
if a few of the boys do
marry in England, well
I don't think there is any
need to make a fuss of
it, for if they really 

8
cared for the Australian girl,
I'm sure that no English
girl could take him off.
I am quite fancy free, for the
only girl in England or
Australia, that I write to
is Jess Crow, & she's engaged
& would have been married
now, but for the war.
I am still keeping in
good health & hope you
are all enjoying that great
blessing also.
Love to all
from Les
[*1 DRL
473*] 

[*P.S.

Next letter
leave out Reg No
& M.G. Section
The battn is sufficient.
Les.*]
France
13/3/1917
Dearest Mother
Your letter of 23/1/17
to hand, together with letters
from Gertie & Perce.
We are moving forward
tomorrow, so I thought I would
just scribble a line while I have
the chance.
I also had a letter from Jim.
He is well & seems happy &
contented enough.
No leave yet. I am afraid
that its stopped for good now.
It seems that I am fated
to miss seeing Jim.
I am receiving your letters
alright now & received a
couple of pairs of sox last
mail.
I have absolutely no news so.
must close with Lots of love to all
from Les. 

France
27/3/17
Dearest Mother
Your last letter
is dated 23/1/17.
I have quite
lost the run of mails now
& just scribble a note, when
I have time, which is not
often just now.
We are awfully busy, but
of course I can't tell you
anything about it.
The weather is much better
now.
We have had some
snow lately, but it's not
nearly so cold as before.
We get more cheerful as
the warmer weather draws
nearer.
I shudder when I
think of the awful time
we have put in this 

winter.
But one forgets very
easily & a few days sunshine
puts new life into us.
Besides the Germans have
fallen back some distance
& when following them up
one cannot help feeling
that we are winning.
It would be silly to say
that the Germans are
done yet, but they do
certainly show signs of
weakening & as time goes
on those signs will be
more marked untill the
end, which I think will
come as sudden as the
war started.
I am keeping very fit &
thats about all. the news
I have.
Best love to all
from Les.