Letters from James Joseph Makin to his family 1918 - Part 5 of 6
2/
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 61st. C.C.T. to the 8th 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 13th, 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
20th '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
8th 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 - 14th 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 1st. Training Battalion yesterday.
Two 5th Bn officers, pals of Les, were
playing against us. They recognised
me, and spoke very kindly. Three
or four other 5th 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 23rd Aug. and letter of 16th 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 5th Bn.
This officer was evacuated wounded
on 25/8/18. Advice received by this unit
regarding his death is as follows :-
"Died of Wounds 8th 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. 5th Bn A.I.F.
____________________________________________
Copy of "W" 16.
" Lieut G. L. Makin 5th Bn A.I.F.
"The late Lieut G. L. Makin was admitted
into this hospital on the 31st August 1918,
suffering from G.S.W: both legs (amputation
of right) and died at 9:30 am on the
8th Sept. 1918"
"He was buried in the St. Sever Cemetery,
Rouen, on 10th Sept. 1918 Grave No. 6218."
________________ Major R.AMC.
C.O. 8th Gen Hosp. Rouen [*33]
Jacqueline KennedyThis transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.