Letters from George Leslie Makin to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 11

 7

absolutely love Major Caughey.

I was never before affected

so much by anything, as

by the news of his death.

And the pity of it was

that he was killed by

what was, what I

consider treachery.

He went to the top of a

German dugout & roared

out for them to come up

but the answer was a 

bullet through the breast.

There were 14 Germans

down that dugout &

believe me, they are

still there

8

I feel quite mad over it,

but what's the use, for

I have more to pay

them for than I can

ever hope to square off.

During the last five 

nights, one would

almost think he was at

the front.

German planes have been

over each night, but

they don't do much

damage, although the

people are much more 

scared than they used 

to be. Will write more

next week. Love to all. Les 
[*1 DRL

473*]

[*P.S.

Your last

letter to me is 
dated 12/7/17, so

if you have asked 

me any questions in any

later letters, I will answer

them when they come along.

Les*]

Aust Convalescent Home

Cobham

Kent

24/10/17

Dearest Mother

You will see by the

address that I am still in the 

hands of the doctors.

There is now some doubt as to

what sort of fever I've got.

The latest guess is Malaria & I'm

down here for observation.

I'm not well at all just at

present.

After leaving hospital, I thought

at first that I was going to 

be alright, but about a week

ago I began to feel "seedy"

& I have been so ever since.

I have no pains, but I feel

very much run down & depressed.

I don't feel a bit like getting

well in this rotten climate, but

I'm afraid there's not much

2

hope of a change.

I am very unhappy as this place

is miles from anywhere & there

are no sports or amusements

of any kind.

I would be happier in France

for there at least my mind

would be occupied.

Sitting in front of a fire all

day won't get anybody fit &

thats all we have to do.

This house is called Cobham Hall

& is owned by Lord Darnley, who

still occupies a part of it.

He is rather a nice old chap

& he has done quite a lot for

convalescent Australians.

He took the English cricket XI

to Australia about 1882 &

there met the lady who is

now his wife.

I have not yet met her, but

I hear she comes from

Victoria.

The lady of the house at which

I stayed for the last three

weeks is writing to you.

She is Mrs Barclay, wife of

Major R.L. Barclay, who is the

head of Barclay's Bank & I

should say about the biggest

private banker in England.

They were most kind to me

so you must thank her when

you answer her letter.

I saw Jim the other day. He

is well & happy as he has

just got a rise.

Tell Rube that I havn't enough

news for a separate letter to

her, but she was asking what

I was wearing on my wrist

when I had the photo taken

at Southend.

It was a silver identity disc

worn round the wrist instead

of the neck.

Tons of Love to all

from Les.

2

I get spasms. Trench

fever is something new,

& they don't seem to know

much about it, as my

treatment has been

mostly rest.

The trouble is that it has

been recurrent & just

as I felt I was getting

well, I used to slip 

back.

I'm hoping I'm finished

with these hospitals

& things for they are

very motonous.

1 DRL 473
 

Blighty

10/11/17

Dearest Mother

I am still

in a convalescent home,

but expect a board any

day.

I think I am now as

well as they can make

me here, but nothing

short of a trip home

will set me up again.

I think I must be a

bit worn out, for I've

had to fight hard, to

get this fever out of

my system. Even now

3

13/11/17

It is some days since I 

started this letter & since

then I have been boarded

& passed once again for

General Service.

Before this reaches you I will

be back with the battn &

I can't say I'm sorry.

I'm sick to death of being

messed about here.

I have 14 days leave from

today & then I go into

camp.

From there I go to France

after a week or so training.

4

Last week end I sent a cable

asking for £20.

I've had to buy a lot of

winter kit & the prices

that are being charged

for everything here

nowadays is absolutely

ruinous.

I can save money in France

but it soon goes here.

I cancelled my allotment

because I was running 

things a bit fine, but I

may make another one

later on.

Jim is well. I am seeing him

tonight. Best Love to all from Les.

29/11/17

Dearest Mother

I am now in camp waiting

for my turn to go across again.

Its a horrible thud to sleep on hard

boards again & in a dirty old hut.

I've been between sheets each night for

some time now & the rough old

blankets take some getting used to.

But I'm very glad to be here & happy

to have something to do, after being

messed about by the Medical people

for so long.

I have received the £20 alright, but it

was not of any use when I got ^it, which

was partly my own fault.

When you sent it care of Jim, you must

have thought that I would see him

every day, but it is not much use

spending one's leave all in London, so

I joined a party of brother officers from

the battn, who were also on leave, and

we were flying all over the country.

I didn't see Jim till the day I came

down here & I got a shock when he

handed me the money & the second

wire. I had given up hope of

getting it & it did seem funny to get it

when my leave was finished.

Although not actually stumped, I could

have done with the money, but thinking

it had been delayed I just cut my own

out nicely.

I'm putting it back in the bank, so it

may be useful some other time.

I had a letter from Howard Smiths, which

I am enclosing, saying that something

had been sent to me for Christmas.

But with my usual luck I'll get to

the battn after it is either sent away

or dealt with.

It's usual when an officer is away in

England & a parcel comes for him, for

some of his pals to have anything eatable

that may be in it.

I fancy it is eatables in mine, for I

also have a note from Griffiths Bros, saying

that they have forwarded a box to me.

I don't mind at all, for the boys out

there want things more than I do at

present, & I've often helped to hit some

of theirs to leg.

Did I tell you that I received Mrs Timbs'

letter. It is a sweet letter & my heart is

really sore, when I think of the poor

dear Mothers at home who suffer so much.

And there are many more to suffer yet

I'm afraid.

It gets worse & worse instead of better &

as for the Anzacs being relieved, it is

right out of the question, although it

could be done alright if they wanted

to.

My experience is that the longer one

serves, the worse he is treated, for

the wrong sort of people always seem

to work their way into the responsible

jobs.

In my last letter I forgot to send

Christmas greetings, but I'm sure you 

know that I do wish you, dear

Mother & all at home the best of

everything for Christmas & New Year.

On those days my thoughts are always

with you as I know yours are with

me.

Fondest love & kisses

from Les.