Letters from James Joseph Makin to his family 1918 - Part 5 of 6

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Two years now since I left 
my battalion, and that it is 
time I did a bit more and 
took a few risks. Perhaps 
you will think that I do not 
consider your feelings and 
that I am inconsiderate, but 
I repeat Lovelace's "Lines in 
Going to the Wars" :— 
"Tell me not sweet I am unkind, 
____ ____ ____ ___ ____ ____ etc 
"I could not love thee half so well 
"Loved I not honor more." 
It were even so much better to 
be stoical, and should bad news 
ever reach you, bear it as did 
the Spartan mothers of ancient 
Greece. 
I cannot write more now, 
so will conclude with love to all 
you dear people at home. Believe 
me, I am always thinking of you. 
Your affectionate son 
Jim 

1 DRL 474 1/2

No. 1 Command Depot, 
Sutton Veny, 6. 9. 18. 

My dearest Mother, 
The day after I last wrote to you I 
heard that Les had been wounded, but I 
have delayed writing on the offchance of 
finding out the nature of his wounds. 
He was wounded on 25/8, and shifted 
from the 61^st. C.C.T. to the 8^th General Hospital, 
Rouen on 31/8. I am expecting any 
day to hear he has been evacuated to 
England, and hope such will be the 
case before the 13^th, when I go on four 
days leave to London. I was to 
have gone yesterday, but have delayed 
it a week on hearing the news. 
I daresay you know by now, and 
I sincerely hope you will not worry 
overmuch dear mother, and break down 
your health. I have been worried a 
great deal on your account, but of 
course I await definite news of 
misfortune before taking anything to 
heart. I always look at it in the 
light that it will mean a trip to

2/
Australia for a certainty, and hope 
his wounds will not prove too serious. 
I shall send you a cable from 
London next weekend, when I 
should have definite news about Les. 
I had a letter from him on the 
20^th 'Aug. and as I said in Ruby's 
letter, the fighting was pretty severe 
although our troops have done so well. 
I cannot help feeling sorry to 
think you will have the news about 
my returning to France about the 
time you hear of Les being wounded. 
It is just circumstance, and I 
trust you will prove as brave as 
you have always been, and rely on 
prayers. Up till now we have been 
very fortunate and there is no 
reason to think our luck is going to 
change. 
Things are running smoothly here, and 
my arm is alright again. I hope I shall 
have good news for you next mail, and 
will conclude with much love to all 
from Your affectionate son, 
Jim.

No. 1 Command Depot, 
Sutton Veny, 
Wiltshire, 
9. 9. 18. 

My dearest Mother & Father, 
Long before you receive this letter, which 
I write with a heart ready to break, You 
will have heard that poor old Les has 
made the supreme sacrifice for his country. 
I have been expecting this sad news 
for ten long days and nights, the 
tension during the last day or so being 
almost unbearable. When you hear of 
the nature of his wounds you will know, 
as I fully realize now, that it is 
better so. I had a wire from London 
this afternoon to say Les died at the 
8^th Gen. Hosp. Rouen yesterday. I have tried 
ever since leaving hospital (6 days) to 
get leave to get across and see him, 
but had not got a definite decision 
up till getting the wire today. 
Now I hope, dear parents, you will 
take a brave view of our misfortune, 
and try to derive some consolation in 
knowing that Les died in the most

noble and honorable way, in defence 
of a his country, fighting in an 
unquestionably just cause. It is 
true that we only realize the most 
fearful and cruel aspect of war when 
our own blood is involved, and 
when sons are lost to their parents, 
and brothers to sisters and brothers. 
I thank God Les had not a 
wife and kiddies depending on him. 
You must be thankful you have still 
sons and daughters to be some 
comfort to you. 
I feel too upset to write further 
tonight, but I shall write again in 
a day or so, when I am more at 
ease. The memory of our last 
parting; the few brave words and 
strong grips; are is too fresh. 
Rest assured I shall find out 
all the news I can and let you 
know as soon as possible. 
I shall not be leaving England 
for at least a month, perhaps not 
at all now. 
Love to all from 
Your affectionate son, 
Jim. 1 DRL474 1/2 

[*P.S. I do not forget dear Ruby is 20 today. 
It is a most shocking day here, a driving 
wind and rain in torrents. Jim.*]

No. 1 Command Depōt, 
Sutton Veny, Wilts, 
26 . 9 . 18. 

My dear Mother, 
You will see I am still at this 
depōt, and my stay has been much 
longer than I expected. 
I have not had any letters from home 
since I last wrote - 14^th July, the latest. 
There should be more letters shortly. 
The weather is still wet and stormy, 
as one must expect at the time of 
an equinox. 
We have started the football season 
already, and played a match against 
the 1^st. Training Battalion yesterday. 
Two 5^th Bn officers, pals of Les, were 
playing against us. They recognised 
me, and spoke very kindly. Three 
or four other 5^th Bn. chaps lamented 
Les the loss of Les as "one of the 
battalion's very best." 
I hope you will not think it was 
out of place for me to be playing 
so soon, but you will understand

2/ 
that I felt so worried that I was 
glad of a game to forget for a while. 
Somehow I am always thinking of 
you now, dear mother, and wondering 
if you are pining, or bearing up 
bravely against misfortune as behoves 
a mother of such a fine chap as 
Les was. 
I daresay you got my cable 
alright. Possibly you had a notification 
from Defence previously. 
There is absolutely no news to 
tell you from this side. The news 
from Palestine and the Balkans 
is very encouraging, and the Western 
front has quietened down. 
I shall write again shortly. 
Best love to all at home 
Your affectionate son, 
Jim. [* 1 DRL 474 1/2]

Pay Office, 
No. 1 Command Depōt, 
Sutton Veny, Wilts, 
1. 11. 18. 

My dearest Mother & all at home, 
I have just returned from five days 
leave to Ilfracombe, North Devon, with Gary 
Burston. It was at his suggestion that 
we made the trip, and I never having 
been to Devonshire readily assented. We 
had a "bonzer" quiet time, enjoying the 
magnificent scenery and the good food 
which is fairly plentiful there. For the 
first time since leaving home I tasted 
real cream "Devonshire Clotted", and believe 
me it was hard to take (I don't think). 
We journeyed via Bath and Bristol, and 
on my return I spent a few hours 
looking around the latter city. I have 
some postcard views of Ilfracombe and 
Bristol, which I shall write on and 
send within a few days. 
The weather, which is so uncertain 
at this time of the year, kept fine - at 
least it did not rain much. (It 
is pouring now to make up for it) 
The visiting season to Ilfracombe 
ended in September, and instead of 
between 30,000 and 40,000 visitors, we found 
it almost deserted. We passed most 
of the time climbing the rugged cliffs 
which skirt the Bristol Channel at this 
part. From the cliffs one gets a fine 
view across the Channel to South Wales, 
and a birds eye view of the shipping 
journeying to and fro to Cardiff, Swansea 
and Bristol.

2/ 
The mine sweepers continue their patrol 
all day long and sometimes at night. 
Many German submarines have met 
their fate about here. 
On my return I received your 
Post Card of 23^rd Aug. and letter of 16^th Sept. 
The latter is the letter written just 
after you had the sad news about Les. 
I cannot tell you how much I feel 
for you dearest mother, and I can 
well imagine the gloom the news has 
thrown over our home, just when you 
were living in such high hopes of his return. 
I am surprised to hear that Les 
was merely reported "wounded". The 
first report was "dangerously wounded", 
and I have already told you of the 
fearful suspense I endured for ten 
long days. I think I told you I 
met a Middle Park boy named Maher 
who was with Jack Barry. He was 
one of four who carried Les to the 
dressing station. He said that Les 
was conscious and wonderfully calm 
and brave, until they gave him morphia 
at the C.C.S. I think that from 
this time onwards he was kept under 
morphia, and did not suffer the 
fearful agony which his wounds would 
indicate. I have told you that he 
is buried at Rouen; and that probably 
I shall be able to visit his grave before 
I leave for home. 
[*33]

3/ 
It is glorious news this morning 
that Turkey has surrendered and 
that an allied fleet is to proceed to 
Constantinople and the Black Sea. 

Later. 
Jack Barry has just called in. 
He came back off furlough this morning 
after touring Edinburgh, Glasgow and 
London. He got some further information 
for me about Les as follows:- 
___________________________________________ 
"Lieut G L Makin 5^th Bn. 
This officer was evacuated wounded 
on 25/8/18. Advice received by this unit 
regarding his death is as follows :- 
"Died of Wounds 8^th Gen. Hosp. Gun shot 
wounds both legs, right amputated 8/9/18. 
Previously reported dangerously ill. 
"This officer was leading his company 
in the attack on 23/8/18, when he was 
struck by a shell. 

_________ Major 
C.O. 5^th Bn A.I.F. 
____________________________________________ 
Copy of "W" 16. 
" Lieut G. L. Makin 5^th Bn A.I.F. 
"The late Lieut G. L. Makin was admitted 
into this hospital on the 31^st August 1918, 
suffering from G.S.W: both legs (amputation 
of right) and died at 9:30 am on the 
8^th Sept. 1918" 
"He was buried in the St. Sever Cemetery, 
Rouen, on 10^th Sept. 1918 Grave No. 6218." 

________________ Major R.AMC. 
C.O. 8^th Gen Hosp. Rouen [*33]