Letters from James Joseph Makin to his family, 1915-1916, Part 12 of 12

Belgrave Hotel, 
Chester. 
20/9/16 
  
Five Minutes from General 
Railway Station, G.P.O. 
and Centre of City 
TELEPHONE No. 246.  
  
Dearest Mother & Father, 
You will see by this that
I am on furlough and
seeing a bit of England.  I  
have 14 days leave and am
on my second day now.  I report
back to Perham Downs Camp,
Salisbury Plains, on Oct. 2^nd. 
Norman Spense is at
Larkhill about 6 miles from
this camp.  I tried to see
him last Saturday but 
could not find him.  I must
sympathize with him in his
sad loss.  Les told me of
Mr Spense's death in his 
last letter.  I am writing
him this morning. Les is
still well.  His division has

2/ 
been shifted from the Somme
front, and they are at 
present near Ypres in
Flanders from what I can 
hear. 
I could have gone  
convalescent to Woodcote
Park near Epsom, but
preferred to have my leave
while the weather is yet fine. 
Since my last letter I
have had 2 more letters, -
one from Ruby and the  
other from Harry - both dated 
27/6/16, so you see it is a
good long while ago.  I 
am longing for a letter
from you, dear Mother.
It is 4 months since I
got your last news.

Belgrave Hotel, 
Chester. 
Five Minutes from General 
Railway Station, G.P.O. 
and Centre of City 
TELEPHONE No. 246. 
  
3/ 
I am afraid the parcels
sent by Ruby and yourselves
will never reach me.  It is
a waste of good money and 
stuff.  Don't send me any- 
thing else, please.  The chance
of getting it is not worth
the trouble. 
I have been recommended
for 3 months' light duty in
England by the O.C. of Epsom
Hospital, but it must be  
confirmed at the Camp when
I return from furlough.
The light duty would probably
be clerical work at Hdqrs. in
London, so it would be
"treś bon" (ask Perce)

4/ 
The casualties of most of
the lads in my platoon
were in yesterday's paper.
It is 8 weeks since they occurred,
so you can see how things
are.  I felt very miserable
to think of many good fellows,
who had shared hardship
with me during two hard
months, to be lying out
there without even a decent
grave in many cases. 
I have not had time
to see much of Chester yet,
but am about to set out
now. on a trip around
the old walls.  It was a
Roman stronghold at one time. 
I forget whether I told
you that two of the chemists
from our Melbourne office.

Belgrave Hotel, 
Chester. 
Five Minutes from General 
Railway Station, G.P.O. 
and Centre of City 
TELEPHONE No. 246
  
5/ 
are now working up here
on munition work for the
Government.  They are not
merely skilled workers, but
absolutely qualified explosive
experts, so one can pardon
them not wanting to go to
France.  Both tried to enlist
however in Melbourne. 
I visited them at the
factory - a tremendous place
working 24 hours a day -
and one of them got the afternoon
off.  They work from 11 am.
till after 8 at night - often
midnight, and Sunday is
just like any other day to
them. 
It was fine to talk of

6/ 
old times in Melbourne, and
I can tell you we agreed
that Mr Lewis, Mr Irwin & Co.
and 423 Flinders Lane, would  
do us after the war (first
boat) 
I'm afraid I cannot give
you much more news this
time, and but will promise you
a good letter next mail.
I am going from here to 
Liverpool tomorrow and 
perhaps to Manchester thence.
I also intend to go up to 
North Wales, where I have a 
ticket.  I broke my journey
here. 
Well, dear parents, I must  
now conclude with best love to
Ruby, Gertie, Perce and Yourselves. 
from  Your affectionate son 
Jim 
P.S I shall send some  
PIC's of Chester as well 
  
1 DRL 474 1/2

No 1 Command Depot. 
Perham Down.
Hamp,
7/11/16 
Dearest Mother & Father, 
The mail is about to close, so I am
writing at the latest moment to give you
the "absolute latest". 
Things are just the same here.  Still
on "light duty" and no sign of shifting.
Les was well when last I heard.  The 
casualties have not been so heavy lately. 
I had arranged to go over to
Larkhill last Sunday to see Harry Makin
and Norman Spence, but the weather was 
too bad.  Cold winds, torrents of rain,
a little snow, and mud galore - and 
you have Salisbury Plains described. 
The 9^th Brigade, in which Harry Makin
is, is still here in England. 
I may be in London when next
You here of me.  I am taking a 
job in the Pay Office temporarily.  Have
just refused five days leave.  Saving
money for Xmas in case I am here.  I
should like to go up to Scotland for Xmas. 
Well dear people you must excuse this  
short note as I have no more time just now. 
Best love to all From 
Your affectionate son,
Jim.