Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 7

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We are at present in a village,
which in the days before the
Somme battle, received a fair 
about of shelling.
Although not actually destroyed,
most of the houses are knocked 
about, but the people still live in
them.
I have not seen either of the
Trewartha's, during the last 12
months.
Tom Parker has been transferred to 
a battn in the new division. I 
don't know whether he went of his
own free will or not, but as he
was transferred in England, I 
don't think he had a say.
I have not seen Alick Phillips for
about 6 months, but he is
bound to be alright. His job is 
a pretty safe one.
I had a letter from Jim
yesterday. He seems very

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dissatisfied with his job over there.
I think he wants to have

another go at the front. I have
done my best to talk him out of
the idea & I thought that he
would stay where he is, but
now I am not so sure.
I am very glad to hear that
Harry has had a rise.
I often think of him, but I have
not written to him for ages, but
I expect that he gets what
little news I send.
It is very hard to write letters
from here. Things are always
the same & my news boiled down
is that I am in good health
& still going strong.
Best love to all
from Les.

France
8/7/17

Dearest Mother

I have no letter
to acknowledge & absolutely
no news.

My last letter from you was
dated 2/5/17, so there should
be a mail in shortly.
The mail to you, leaving
England on 31/5/17 was
lost in the Mongolia, so I

expect you will be some
weeks without letters.
We are still out of the line,
but next week should see
the end of our spell.
It has been most welcome
after the severe winter, which
we spent in the Somme

area.
The weather during the last
few weeks has not been
very nice. Rain almost
every day, but not cold.
Yesterday was fine, but it
rained very heavily early
this morning.
I expect you have heard about
the aeroplane raids on London
& the sea towns.
A chap just back from
leave, brings the report that
another raid has taken
place in London & it is the
most severe of the lot.
Will our people never try

retaliation.
I am in the best of health &
spirits  Best love to all
from Les.

France
25/7/19167
Dearest Mother

I expect you have
been wondering where your
letters have gone lately.
As a matter of fact it is some
time since I wrote & it
seems ages since we had a
letter from home.
There are so many mails
being lost both ways, that I
have quite given up hope now,
of hearing from you again.
I have been going to write
ever so many times, but
kept putting it off thinking
each day would bring a

letter that I could answer. 
Our mail from home is

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about the only thing we have
to look forward to, so you

can imagine how fed up
we are.

My last letter from you was
dated 2/5/17.
We are just now on our

way back to the line, after
the longest spell we have
had so far.
We have been working very
hard lately & expect some
hard times very soon.
Today is the anniversary
of the taking of Pozieres, &
my heart is sore when I
think of the chums I lost
in that battle.
Don't you think my luck is
extraordinary. At Bullecourt

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where I had charge of a

company, a very great friend
named Griffiths who also
served with me in the old
51^st & who was also commanding
a company (B), was
struck down & killed on
the very ground that I had
been on for over 24 hrs.
I had his poor body
brought out & he was
buried near Bapaume.
The ceremony was most
impressive, as his boys who
loved him, turned out in
force & cried unashamed.
That is one of the saddest
pictures of the war, but we
do manage to have quite
a good time out of the line. 

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I am glad to know that

you are confident that I 
will return safely to you.
Without that confidence I

could never have kept going,
but I have not lost it for
one minute, since the day
I put my leg over the 
boat at Anzac.
As it is, I am strong & well
& although not spoiling for
fight as we were in the 
old days, I am content
to go on to the end.
It's very hard to predict
the end of the war.
Things in Russia are not
too good. Had she kept
going & not listened to the
voice of the traitor, all

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would have been well & the
war finished now.

At present we seem to be
holding our own with the
submarines, but Heaven
help us if our navy fails.
The Germans continue to
raid England with
aeroplanes & kill dozens
of women & kiddies, but I
don't think they will do
any good for themselves
that way.
Even if Russia is beaten, we
will not lose the war then.
It will certainly prolong
the struggle & perhaps mean
a moderation of our peace
terms, but don't forget we
can't lose, as Germany has

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already failed in her main
objects.
How is the recruiting now.
Have you heard all the
suggestions, for bringing
back some of the original
1^st Div., for a spell.
Can't be done in my 
opinion, but one never
knows.
I would certainly love to
be home for next Christmas,

but I "hae ma doots".

Jim is well & writes
regularly. He seems dissatisfied
over there, but I've
done my best of to cure him
of hankering after more
service. Trusting we are all
fit & well. I am 
yours lovingly

Les.