Letters from James Joseph Makin to his family, 1915-1916, Part 5 of 12

France,  
9/4/16. 
Dearest Mother & Father, 
 Just a line to let you know that 
since I last wrote my address has been 
altered slightly. It is now:- 
No.  Name, 
21^st Infantry Battalion, A.I.F., 
2^nd A.D.B.D., 
C/o A.P.O - S17, 
B. E. F., 
France. 
There has been nothing of note since my 
last letter. "Everything in the garden is 
looking lovely and there is every prospect 
of rain." I am still in a training 
camp doing plenty of training and 
feeling better than ever before. It is 
pretty cold some days but we are used to 
it by now. There is not much to write 
about as I am always in camp and  
each day is practically alike.  We had 
an easy day yesterday (Saturday). We were 
paid  (£2/3/-) and issued with tobacco. 
In the afternoon there was a football match 
between my unit and the artillery, which we 
won. I quite enjoyed the game and hope 
they will come off pretty often. 

2. 
We might as well be isolated at 
Broadmeadows as be in this camp. Apart  
from the few French girls and women 
about the camp selling oranges and 
collecting washing there is very little 
to remind us that we are in France. 
We are much more settled down than 
when we were in the Melbourne camps. 
Now one is much more contented to stay 
in camp and make the most of one 
another's company. It is surprising 
how quickly each day passes. The meals 
seem to come very soon after one another. 
It is just as well for they are not 
exactly Sunday dinners we are getting. 
Are you getting my letters regularly? 
I have written often and regularly so 
that you would not be worrying if I 
missed a mail. I am looking forward 
to getting some letters shortly. It is 
about time some "came to light." 
Did you get the parcel I sent from 
Egypt? I hope you did, for buying it left 
me "broke" for three weeks. 
I shall write again shortly. 
Love from Jim 

France, 
17/4/16 
  
Dear Mother & Father, 
As there is no mail for a fortnight after tomorrow 
I am taking the opportunity to send you a few lines. 
There is nothing exceptional to tell you since my 
last letter. We are still in the training camp doing 
plenty of work and waiting for something to turn up. 
The weather has been very cold for about a week, a 
cold wind blowing off the sea the whole time and 
making training very disagreeable. It looks as if it will 
be a cold Easter week as it usually is in Melbourne. 
We are still awaiting our first mail from Australia. 
The letters are probably held up in Cairo at the Base 
Depot. I had a letter from Les from his camp 
at Kent in answer to the one I wrote him c/o 
High Commissioner. It was only a note and saying 
that he would write a long letter later on. He said he 
was hearing regularly from you so I wrote him 
to send me some news of home. My letters can 
reach him in a couple of days from here. He said 
that it was doubtful if he would be able to join  
his battalion in France. I don't suppose you will 
be sorry if he does not. I saw in the "Daily Mail" 
yesterday that the Government in Australia is 
determined to fulfil the promise to send 300,000 men 
to the front, using compulsion if necessary. If this 
is so there should not be many men left about 
Melbourne who are fit to do their bit. Are the  
papers just as full as ever of "The Call to Arms" &c.? 

2. 
The German attacks on Verdun have been 
fruitless so far and the French lines are still 
as strong as ever. There should be something 
doing when summer sets in and the "Spring 
Campaign" starts in earnest. There is evidently 
a good number of Australians left at the Canal. 
They captured a Turkish camp recently somewhere 
in the neighbourhood of the Canal. I heard 
that there are also some in Mesopotamia. I 
think we are the most fortunate of the lot, - so 
far at any rate. Is Ruby still at home? I 
should not be surprised if she is tired of being 
at home by this and has gone back to Buckley's. 
I did not see anything of Jim Duggan in 
Egypt. I would write and tell Eileen but I 
forget her address. How is Alick getting on? I 
suppose he is somewhere here in France if he 
is with his battalion. I don't suppose Ern. 
has made another mistake and enlisted again. 
Is he married yet? 
Les said he sent me a photo to  
Egypt, but it has not come to hand yet. I 
suppose you got one alright. When you are 
writing don't forget to send me a paper or so,- 
The Bulletin would be very acceptable (although 
we have plenty of "bully-tins" as a matter of fact). 
 I hope mother has quite recovered from the 
sickness she had before I came away and that all 
are in the best of health. Love from Jim. 

France 
18/4/16 
Dear Perce, 
Just a line to let you know I have 
not forgotten all about you. How are you 
getting on at school this year? I suppose 
you have started football by this time. The 
weather here is just the thing for football, but 
it so hard to play on account of the ground 
being sandy. We have had two matches and 
have won one of them. I got a tooth broken 
in the first and a tooth through my lip 
the second. Are you captain of your form 
team again this year? Kirkwood of Essendon 
is in my camp and enjoys his kick. Is 
there a School "Record" out yet. Don't forget 
to send one along to me. Mr Heathcote 
is in this camp now but I have not been 
lucky enough to strike him yet. He came 
from Egypt about 12 days after me. Jimmy 
Haddow is now a 2^nd Lieut. and is with the 6^th Batt. 
I think Billy Bruce is still at the Canal, but I 
am not certain. I had a letter from Les a 
few days ago. I was very glad to hear of him 
again. Don't forget to write now and then.  
Your brother, 
Jim 
P.S. Do you still forget 
your lunch sometimes?

France 
29/4/16. 
Dear Mother, 
Just a few more lines to let you know 
that I am well and in good spirits. There 
has not been a mail out since last Tuesday 
week, so I have not written for about a 
fortnight. I am still in the same training 
camp and there is no prospect of moving for 
a while. I received your letter addressed 
to the "Warilda" (dated 11/2/16) on Good 
Friday, but you see I have practically no 
news since I left. I should be anxious 
but for the fact that Les has told me that 
everything was alright when last he heard. 
Evidently he hears fairly regularly from you. 
I got a letter from him just a while 
ago (dated 23/4/16), the longest I have seen 
him write at one time. I drew his story (or 
a bit of it) from him by writing a letter 
full of questions, some of which he answered. 
How modest he is, but what a brave chap! 
You must be proud of him, but if you 
heard some of his plain straight talk to 
me you would be doubly so. He is every 
inch a man, and if ever he had 
any faults, which after all are only  
human, he has purged himself hundred- 
fold on Gallipoli's deadly slopes. 

2. 
If ever I prove myself half the man he 
is I shall be satisfied. I am not speaking 
so much of him military service, (which has been 
finer than we have ever imagined), but of his 
manly qualities:- modesty, in the extreme, 
his patience in his many trials, (for did 
he ever complain throughout his campaign?) 
his steadfast devotion to duty, and  
consideration for our feelings at home during 
his months of peril. Add to these his 
recognition of the qualities of others. He is 
never tired of speaking of the good points 
of others and giving praise where it is due. 
He wrote to me the other day telling me 
that if ever I wanted anything at all, big 
or small, expensive or cheap, no matter what 
it was, he would send it. A friend of  
his, Captain Gibson, a doctor in the R.A.M.C. 
also wrote me a very nice, cheering letter. 
He was even more emphatic than Les in 
asking me just to name any want I have. 
Of course I am wanting nothing at present, 
only that my ordinary good luck and good health 
will continue, and that plenty of letters will 
shortly "come to light". 

3. 
Last Tuesday was Anzac Day, and believe 
me, dearest mother, you all have never been 
nearer to me than on that day. What a 
coincidence that it should have fallen on  
your birthday! What kind of an Easter 
have you spent? Very quiet, I should 
imagine, and I can understand that your 
thoughts were often with us, - so far and yet 
so near. I can imagine Les. on Anzac 
Day thinking of you in among his 
numerous thoughts connected with the glorious 
landing. It was a quiet Easter for me, 
but very happy. Good Friday found us 
drilling as usual all day. The first Aust- 
mail was delivered in the evening, and 
although most of the letters were 9 or 10 
weeks old they cheered us up somewhat. 
It rained, all day on the Saturday and 
we spent it within our tents. On Easter 
Sunday I went to Communion - along with 
Australians, "Scotties" and "Tommies" of most 
the English and Irish regiments in camp 
here. It was a most edifying sight to 
see the hall crowded out with soldiers, 
and all bent on the same mission, - making peace 
with God. 

4. 
I went to Benediction and Rosary in the 
evening. I was surprised at the way 
Benediction was sung by the soldiers (in 
Latin) and also the hymns to the 
accompaniment of the Club piano. 
 Is it not deplorable that trouble has 
broken out in Ireland? It is astounding, in- 
as much as there are thousands of fine men 
in the Irish regiments here, who are 
moved by the highest sense of patriotism. 
Who can deny that these Irish regiments 
are not among the best of the British 
fighting units and are fighting to uphold 
British integrity and traditions? I have 
mixed with them for a month and I 
know their spirit. And yet they are having 
their honor and name filched away by 
a ruffian horde, blinded by long-past 
wrongs and kindled by German gold and 
influence. Let us hope that the trouble 
will be stamped out this time for good 
and all, as assuredly it will be, but at the 
expense of much needed lives at a critical 
moment. This is another instance illustrating 
the sameness of the "Keep-your-eye-on-Germany" Policy. 

5. 
Did you get a photo of Les and Dr Gibson? 
It is a fine photo of Les as we knew him 
at home, but he has lost some of the "condition" 
he had in other photos. I think there is a 
fine expression in his eyes. Perhaps I 
 am more inclined to eulogise him on account 
of hearing of his exploits so recently, but 
nevertheless I cannot help feeling 
proud of him. 
I am writing to Papa this time - a 
separate letter- because there are things  
which I feel I can say to you each 
separately better than in one letter, and 
then, of course, you can read both 
just the same. 
I shall also try to find time to write 
to Ruby and dear little "Nickie" and 
Perce this time. Remember me to 
both Aunties and anyone interested 
in me,- also to Harry and Essie in case 
their letter miscarries. (You see I have 
already lost faith in the Post Offices here). 
I shall write again shortly, and give 
you some more news. It should be easier 
to write when I get some of your letters. 
Your affectionate son, 
Jim.