Letters from James Joseph Makin to his family 1918 - Part 4 of 6

2/ 
the Monday (this Monday)  
being a public holiday.  
We were fortunate enough  
to strike two successive  
fine days and had a  
good time.  We went in  
swimming in the Eng.  
Channel.  The water  
was very cold but the  
swim was very enjoyable  
nevertheless.  Last Sunday  
I went to an exhibition  
of Australian War Pictures 
at the Grafton Galleries.   
They are very fine indeed, 
and will eventually  
be seen in Australia  
I suppose. 

3/ 
The Germans have made  
a further big attack  
and tonight's paper  
reports them across  
the River Aisne.  They  
have achieved a good  
initial success and  
it remains to be seen  
if they will be able 
to follow it up.  
I had a letter from  
Leo a few days ago.  
He is well and going  
strong.  He has no  
word of going back to  
France as yet. 

4/ 
I think it is better to  
send my papers direct. 
It will save the doc. a  
good deal of trouble in  
bringing them up from  
Westcliff. .  He is a 
very busy man these  
times at the Admiralty  
and I seldom see  
him at all.  The  
air raid last Sunday 
night week on London was  
the first I have missed.. 
There were over 200  
casualties. 
The light is failing so  
I mist bid you goodnight.  
Fondest love from Jim.

27 Chesilton Road 
Munster Park 
London SW.6, 
4.7.18 

My dearest Mother & all at home, 
Your welcome letter of 9/5 just to hand. 
Am glad you are getting some of my  
letters.  There is no sign of the parcel  
as yet, but I live in hopes. 
I have some very good news.  Les  
will not be going back to France for  
at least another month. He has just  
written to tell me he has not got 
anyone to relieve him and does not 
expect anyone for at least a month.  
During the last few days I  
have seen Jack Richardson and  
Ron Gibson, both old U.H.S boys,  
and just arrived from Australia a  
few weeks ago.  Jack is in camp 
near the town of Bedford and Ron  
is a Sgt. in the Ordnance Corps and  
is stationed in London for the present 
He is a military Staff Clerk in  
Melbourne, hence his stripes. 
You have got no idea how glad I  
was to see those boys.  Wally Cosgriff  
called in to see me yesterday.  He

2/ 
is over on leave from France and  
is just back from Scotland.  He is  
Armourer S.Sgt in the 39th Bn; a good  
job.  He is looking very fit and well. 
Bill O'Brien is working with him  
in the armoury and is keeping well.  
I am glad to hear Gordon  
Stirling got home alright.  You  
might remember me to him and  
to Mrs. Stirling and the girls. 
I was ever so pleased to  
get Gertie's snap taken at  
Traralgon.  She appears to be ever  
so big, and a bonny little girl. 
Lenore must be a bonzer little kid.  
She will think it is her birthday  
when Les and I get back.  You  
did not say how you enjoyed  
your trip to Ballarat.  I hope you  
had a good time.  How is Auntie  
Kate taking the bad news about Alex.  
I am writing to her by this mail. 

3/ 
I had a letter from Reg. Bennett  
yesterday.  He was telling me  
about the celebration of Anzac Day. 
I think there is one of your letters  
missing because you have not  
mentioned Anzac Day. 
Today is American Independence  
Day and a great day it has  
been.  King George and all the  
heads were at Stamford Bridge 
to witness a famous baseball match  
between teams chosen from the  
U.S. Army and Navy.  It finished  
up in a big victory for the Navy. 
The Yanks are hustling some,  
now, and have 1,029,000 troops in  
France by now.  276,000 for the  
month of June was good going.  
The German offensive has been  
brought to a standstill, and in  
view of the Americans arriving "in  
big lumps" the situation is rather  
more cheering than for some months  
past.  
I went to the National Sporting  
Club last night.  The Yanks have

4/ 
arranged a series of boxing  
events, known as the "American  
and British Empire Competitions." 
An Australian named Smith (just  
lobbed over) won the Middleweights,  
and another named Eugene was 
"runner up" in the Lghtweights, won  
by a former English champion,  
Seaman Hayes. 
This news will not be very  
interesting but I just write as  
things come into my head.  I  
am lying on Putney Heath, and  
it is quite light enough to write  
at after 9pm.  I must be  
getting home however as I must  
be up before 7 in the morning.  
I trust you are all enjoying  
the best health and keeping your  
spirits up to full height.  Much  
love to all from  
Your affectionate son 
Jim 

No. 1 Command Depot 
Sutton Veny, 
Wilts, 27.7.18 

My dearest Mother & Father, 
I trust you will not be very  
grieved to hear I have left London  
and am going to be a soldier  
once more.  You must know how  
fed up and disgusted I have  
been during the past twelve months.  
It finally got unbearable and I  
threw in the sponge.  I am glad  
to say I go away without getting  
a crime against my name.  
I have been here 3 days  
now and am just dropping 
into my stride.  The life is quite  
enjoyable and I shall be feeling  
the benefit of the change in a  
few weeks time. 
I shall probably be just  
leaving England by the time 
you get this letter.  I am quite  
confident that I shall come  
through alright and have no 

2/ 
apprehensions about going back . 
Les is at present on a few  
days leave in London, probably  
his last before going to France.  
I am only about 1½ miles distant 
from his camp and shall see  
him next Tuesday.  I am  
trying to arrange a transfer to  
his brigade, not necessarily to his  
battalion.  I think it were best  
to address my letters to my pal  
as follows : - 
3862 Private J.J Makin, 
21st Battalion A.I.F 
c/o Cpl. C F Juergens, 
27 Chesilton Road, 
Munster Park 
London S.W.6. 
When I am definitely settled I  
shall advise you further. 
I met Graydon Burston,  
an old U.H.S boy, here yesterday.  
He has been over in England  
since October and, is likely to be 
here on a base job for some time.

3/ 
I received your large parcel the  
day I marched out from London.  
I think it was the one you  
sent for my birthday.  It contained  
a large cake, sugar, cocoa, cafe' au lait,  
chocolate, cigarettes & and of course  
was very acceptable.  I am very  
grateful indeed. 
I had a letter from Dr Gibson  
two or three days ago saying he  
had received some papers for me.  
I have told him to redirect them  
to me, but I am afraid they  
will never find me.  
My latest letter from you is  
dated 9/5.  There is a mail  
in dated about 23/5 but I  
have not got any letters up to  
date by that:  I must expect  
them to be delayed a while  
now.  I must ask you again  
not to worry about me.  I  
shall be as right as a bank.  
You must realize it is almost