Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 10

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I think I'm in a trance &
will wake up & find myself
in the middle of a barrage
or something as unpleasant.
Old Jim doesn't know I'm
here & he's away down at
Southend with the Doctor,
having a holiday.
I'm afraid to wire him, for
fear he'll rush up & spoil
his leave.
I can't say I am sorry to be
here for a while, for I badly
need a rest & it seems the
only way to get one, although
I am always sorry to leave
 

4
the battalion, no matter where
I am going, for after all
this time, you can understand
that we look on it as our
home for the time being.
Anyway it feels like home
when one goes back. Its
almost worth while going
away to see the looks of

welcome on the poor, old
tired faces of the old hands,
& to hear their cheery words
of welcome.
I'm afraid they will have
some stiff fighting while I'm
away, but my conscience is
 

5
easy, for it will be the first
scrap they've been into without
me.
The war doesn't show many
signs of ending yet does it.
I think the whole world is
going, or rather has gone
quite made.
Russia seems to have shot
her bolt completely. Had it
not been for her untimely
collapse, I'm sure it would
have all been over now.
I was surprised to hear that
Norman Spence had gone home.
 

6
I can't think why he should
get furlough, as he has never
been in the firing line yet,
& there are men over there
in France, whose healths
are being everlastingly
ruineds for want of a rest.
But it's always the way, the
most underserving seem to
get all the good things in
the Army.
Well dear Mother I have no
more news just now, but
after I've seen Jim, I'll
write again.
Best Love to all
from Les.
 

2
convalesce. I am staying
at a private house.
The people are good
enough to take two
officers at a time &
really Mother they are
jolly good to us.
They make one feel
at home almost at
once & spare no effort
to make us comfortable.
There are just two,
man & wife, so we
have rather a quiet
time, as he is a
Major & at present

30/9/17
Dearest Mother
I am thankful
to say that I am out of
hospital & doing very well.
I am about a stone
under weight, but I'm
remedying that at quite
an extraordinary rate.
I had a Medical Board
about two days ago &
they decided that I
would not be fit for
anything for a month,
so they have sent me
to Hertfordshire to
 

3
stationed at the War
Office & of course he
goes to London each day.
Their name is Barclay
& they are almost
the biggest bankers
in England.
The surrounding
country is absolutely
gorgeous & there is
a small river running
quite close to the
house.
Yesterday we were
boating & today
 

4
we motored about
35 miles.
The weather over here
as you know is
very unreliable, but
these last two days
have been perfect.
Already I feel much
benefited by the
wonderful country
air & the really
splendid food I am
having.
I hope the papers did
not report me ill &
worry you at all
Lots of Love from Les.
 

2
off & proved to be the
most successful operation
that the division has
ever done.
Just before I left
Wandsworth, five of
my pals arrived,
wounded, but very
happy & cheerful.
As I told you I was
not particularly sorry
to leave the battn, as
I was rather fed up
at the time, but after
their account of the
fight, I was very
 

30/9/17
Dear Harry
I have written
to Mother, mostly about
myself & my doings, so
I will write to you
about, well mostly war.
As I told you before,
when I left the battn
there was what we
call a "stunt" coming
off.
In other words they
were "hopping over".
Well, the stunt came
 

3
sorry to have missed it.
It was the taking of
Inverness Copse & ground
beyond it that I refer
to & thanks to splendid
artillery preparation, our
casualties were very
light.
We only had three officers
killed, but I want
to talk about two of
the dead men, for
I know you will be
interested to hear.
One was a chap called
Kernan & he told
 

4
me that he knew you
& Essie. He said he
had been to dances
with you.
He went into action
that day for the first
time, as he was one
of our latest reinforcement
officers.
He was shot in the
stomach & hadn't a
chance.
Do you remember him.
The other one was my
company commander
Capt Les. F. Moore & a
 

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more fearless man I have
not yet met.
When I was a private
he was a 2/Lt in the
same company & since
I have had a commission
he has been a close
personal friend.
He was very strict in
matters of discipline, even,
when they caused him
to do most unpleasant
jobs.
Although only 22 years
of age at the time of his
death, he had been
a captain for over two
 

6
years.
I have no hesitation in
saying that he was the
best soldier that my
battn ever produced.
He paid me a great
compliment just before his
death.
My old platoon commander
Major Caughey, when he
rejoined, applied for me
as his second in command.
Capt Moore refused to let
me go & as I learned
most of my work under
him I was rather
pleased that I was not
shifted, although I