Letters from James Joseph Makin to his family, 1915-1916, Part 6 of 12

France 
1/5/16. 
Dear Father, 
Just a line to let you know that I 
am getting on alright so far, and up to 
the present have had nothing to complain 
of. I am not sorry, or never have been, 
that I enlisted when I did. On the 
contrary I have often thought that I 
should have come before I did, although 
it was hard whilst Les was in danger 
to think of asking mother. 
Although it is not three months since 
I left home, it seems much longer. I 
think I can claim to be a better man 
than when I was at home, chiefly 
because such a life as one leads as 
a soldier on active service cannot help 
but broaden one's mind and make him 
look on the better side of life. All 
petty troubles and quarrels fade before 
the one great aim, which is to carry the 
war through and get home as quickly 
as possible. One lives with men of all 
stations, creeds, character, ideals, and 
from them he sees his own weaknesses, 
and, if he possesses sufficient will power, 
he corrects them. 
Arguments will arise, - very hot arguments

2 
indeed - and men will express themselves 
very forcibly - perhaps it will lead to 
blows, - but immediately the argument drops, 
things go on as before. There is no such 
thing as a difference of opinion lasting 
more than an hour or two at the most. 
I often think that if ever I get back 
it will be a new life, so to speak- 
just like being born again. 
What do you think of Les remaining 
in England so long? I can imagine 
mother and Ruby hoping he will be kept 
there altogether. I got a letter from him 
yesterday telling me how he won his 
promotion at Gallipoli. You must know 
how I was longing to hear his tale 
before I went went into action myself. I had 
to drag it out of him by writing him all 
questions in my letters. Even now it is only 
the barest outline, and told so reluctantly 
and modestly that I feel that this 
modesty is just as praiseworthy as the 
actual deeds themselves. Have you ever 
been able to draw anything from him about 
his campaign or his sickness? He says 
he has had a good time lately, but how

3 
well has he earned it? I think I could 
get letters quicker through him than direct 
from home. At any rate I have asked 
him to let me have the news after each 
mail he gets from home. 
He has made a very good friend in a 
Dr. Gibson, an English R.A.M.C. man. I dare say 
he has mentioned him in his letters home. 
I received a letter from Capt. Gibson, and 
from the tone of it he has great admiration 
for Les, and he wants to get to know me 
because he says Les has often spoken, 
to him of me. I am awaiting . an opportunity 
to answer his letter, but we do not get 
much time for writing. 
I am still in the same training camp 
and it is five weeks tonight since we 
arrived in France. I am feeling a 
much more efficient soldier, but have 
still a lot to learn for the "Germhuns" are 
no mug fighters, by all accounts. 
They tried to "strafe" us with a few bombs 
on "Anzac" night but happily made some 
good misses. The sound of the explosions 
was terrific in the still night air, but we 

4. 
did not lose much sleep. We saw the 
craters caused by the bombs next day, and 
they are evidently very powerful bombs. 
Les, was telling me that he saw them 
bring down the L15, the Zeppelin which 
landed at the Thames mouth. It must 
have been a good sight. 
We go for a route march to neighbour
ing villages now and than. The young 
crops are about 6 inches high, and 
hares can be seen stealing away in 
almost every crop. I always think of 
you, and think how you would like 
to be near with your "double -barrel". It would 
be fine sport with some good greyhounds, 
There are also a few rabbits about. Do you 
ever go out shooting now? I will be 
going out shortly, but after Huns instead 
of game. How is Perce getting on this 
year? I should try and keep him at 
school as long as possible if I were you. 
I am sure that it is the better plan, and 
he will thank you for it later on in life. 
All he wants is a little encouragement 
now and than and to be shown that you 
are interested in his work, and he will be a 

5. 
good boy, I am sure. I am looking 
forward to some letters from you all. 
I think they will be regular once they 
start coming. 
It is pleasing that the Irish rebellion 
is not as alarming as it was thought 
and is now dying out. It is most 
regretable that it should have occurred 
at this time. It is the fanatical Sinn 
Feiners at the bottom of the trouble, & 
the Nationalist Party under Redmond is 
absolutely against them. It is astounding 
when you see the Irish regiments here 
in France, fighting along with the rest 
of us-Australians, N-Z-ers, & Canadians. 
The news of Townshend's surrender was 
a big shock and it certainly does not 
improve the situation in Mesopotamia. 
Like the Dardanelles adventure the Turks 
have again been held too cheaply. 
I must now finish off as I have 
more letters to write and my time is 
very limited, so will now say goodbye 
till you hear next mail. 
Your affectionate son, 
Jim 

France, 
7/5/16. 
Dear Mother & Father, 
There is another mail out tomorrow so 
I am sending you a little more news. 
There has been nothing startling during 
the past weeks- just training , route- 
marches, three meals each day, and 
room in a tent at night. I have not
heard from Les since. I got a 
letter from Harry yesterday dated 20/3/16 
but have nothing from home since 11/2/16. 
There is a large mail in at present 
so I should get some letters in a day or so. 
I would have liked to be able to tell you 
I had your letters. It would have 
been easier to write this is I had 
something to answer, but I shall do 
my best under the circumstances. 
Did the Ballarat people find you 
alright? I should have liked to have 
seen them. It is three years last Easter 
since I was up at Ballarat with them 
is it not? Those few days such of cold 
and wet have only been beaten by 
the weather we had here for a fortnight 
or so. 

2. 
It has been lovely spring weather here 
lately, and the route marches have been 
a pleasure to me. Each time we go 
for a march the indications of the 
arrival of spring are more noticeable. 
The trees are now in leaf and 
everything is fresh and green. The 
crops have grown so that the hares are 
harder to see as they steal away. This 
part of France beats Victoria (or the 
parts I have seen of it) for wild flowers. 
They grow along the roadways and lanes 
in profusion, The sky larks are here 
just as they were at St Albans, only 
ever so many more. They are singing 
at all times- even at the peep of dawn, 
which is not long after 3 o'clock these 
mornings. Some days have been quite 
hot, and many of us are wearing "shorts". 
The English papers are full of 
the doings of our "Billy" Hughes and 
his fellow compatriot Lloyd George. They 
had a great day at Conway in Wales 
yesterday, and made characteristic speeches. 

3. 
After reading their speeches I was able 
to say " Them's my sentiments" Both of these 
fiery little Welshmen advocate a more 
vigorous campaign and a plea for 
putting out whole strength in the field. 
I feel that the sooner this is done, the 
sooner the Hun will go under and the 
sooner we will get home. I shall 
not be sorry when we make a move 
out of this camp to try our luck against 
the "Germhuns." 
I see from Harry's letter that Jack 
Scanlon got home alright and that his 
arm is nearly better. Have any more 
Middle Park boys become soldiers since 
I left? 
I am stuck for news so I shall 
have to finish off this hopeless scrawl 
with a promise to write a better one next 
week. 
Your affectionate son, 
Jim.