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

4/
You will see that he was wounded on
Aug. 23^rd (not 28^th as previously reported)
this was the date Lieut Birchevaise, a
pal of Les's in the 5^th, told me, but
on my saying it was reported the
28^th, he said that possibly he was
wrong. They had just gone through
St Martins Word near Bray. I have
a letter dated 22^nd Aug. from Les,
which I shall enclose. He says that
there was a stunt on foot. Poor old
boy, my heart aches for him.
The morning mail has just
arrived, bringing Ruby's letter of 5^th Aug, 
yours of 22/8, and one from Reg
Bennett.  Reg has sent a Xmas 
parcel early in August. He is a 
fine boy and I am sorry you
do not know him well.
Ruby's letter is a long one, well
written and quite the best I have yet 
had from her. I shall answer it
in a day or so.  I am sorry 
you were worried over me not getting
the money you sent me in June
until six weeks ago. I have told
you the Banks notification went astray,
and that the girl at the Bank told
me no money had arrived when I 
called there on several occasions.

5/
Girls as a whole are most unreliable
clerks and responsible for a lot of
trouble in this respect.  I am 
pleased to hear that Jack Draper
called, and hope he will visit you
again.  Sgt. Kinsman did not
manage to get home.  He is at 
present in the Pay Office at No 4
Command Depot, Hurdcott, and we
correspond regularly.  I don't 
remember Les mentioning Capt. Houghton
to me, but no doubt he was one
of his many friends.
I was very reluctant to cancel
my allotment and was more than 
sorry when I found that you had
sent the money, which would have
obviated such a step. Still dear
Mother if you can manage it
will be better than you sending 
money periodically. I shall have 
sufficient now without you sending 
any more, and may be able to save
some as well.  I had no idea
that the fact of Les having no 
allotment interfered with his pension.
It will not matter in my case, as
I shall not be in any more danger, 
and hope to be safely home by
next Easter.
I have learned that Les left

6/
a will in your favor. He must 
have accrued about ₤180 deferred 
pay.  Is it not lamentable that he 
was not spared to enjoy his well-earned 
money and to appreciate
once more a peaceful life under
the old conditions? Harry must
have a good bit of his money,
and I suppose you will be
getting that also.  I hope to 
goodness you insist on getting
every penny of it too after the
way things have turned out. I forget
whether I told you that I wrote
him a long letter a couple of
weeks ago consequent on his leaving
you, and telling him all that I
thought about him and Essie also.
Whatever you do, you must not
be softened by any circumstances
whatever, and let him have any
of it.  It would not be fair to
poor old Les, whose views I know
so well on this point.  I think 
it is well for Harry  Les did not 
get back in this respect, for his 
conduct would need a lot of 
explaining.   You need not mention 
what I have written to him though,
for no doubt it would hurt his feelings.

7/
I am writing to London to get a 
photo of Les's grave, which I shall send 
you when it comes to hand.
I have just had a note from
Kinsman saying he is coming here
today from Hurdcott.  I hope he 
will be able to get here in the Pay 
Office with me.  He is a fine 
chap and the best of company.
I had a number of snaps 
taken at Ilfracombe, and should
they turn out alright I shall send 
you some.  It was too dull for  
much photography though.  You 
mention having your photo "took"
in your letter of Aug 22^nd. I hope
you will be sending me one.
The Doctor sent you a parcel of
White Leather some time ago. It should
reach you shortly.  He was very 
pleased with your little presents,
which I am sure he will treasure.
His room at Westcliff is one mass
of war photographs, - all his soldier
friends.  Les seems to be his
favourite and his photo and mine
are together in a prominent position.
He has a fine enlargement of that
group of Carrie Grubb, the Misses Fairfax,
the doctor, Les and two other officers.

8/
I obtained several other photos of
Les and the doctor on my last visit
to Westcliff.
When I met Les in London
about twelve months ago he got
three photos of himself from me, 
saying he wanted to get some
printed from them.  He did not 
return them to me, so probably
they will be sent home with his 
effects.  They told me at Hdqrs
that everything likely to be of any
sentimental value, which he had in his 
possession, would reach you in 
due course.  You will understand 
that I am quite unable to get any
of them on account of my not being
mentioned in his paybook or at 
Hdqrs.  I am doing my best to 
locate his trunk, but have not
been successful as yet.
I got a "Bulletin" and "Argus"
both dated late in August, a few 
days ago.  They were addressed
to Fred Juergens (London address).
I am pleased I told you to 
write to that address, as it is 
much the quickest and safest.
He sends them on to me immediately.
You will meet many of my friends 
"aprės la guerre"  Most of them have

9/
my address, and I think they will 
visit me whenever they hit Melbourne.
I sent a bundle of music 
to Ruby from Ilfracombe a few
days ago.  I hope it arrives O.K.
I shall send some to Gertie
shortly also.  I am pleased 
that both have stuck to their 
music.  I feel on awful "dud" 
at not being able to play or sing.
I cannot help the latter disability 
of course, but I regret not being
able to "manipulate the ivories".
I wonder if I shall be home 
for next University Year, and if
I shall have sufficient courage to
start again?  It is a matter of 
'Conjecture', I am afraid.  I feel
I should like to get into a
business, failing that. The prospect
of being a paid clerk all my
life worries me a bit.
Did I ever tell you Les and 
I had decided to go on the land?
We did so on talking of home one
day whilst strolling in London. At
the time I could not picture myself
holding the plough handles or sitting 
behind a reaper and binder, but I 

10/
though I might install myself
in the business somehow as a 
sleeping partner, - feeding the fowls,
or something easy like that.  But 
I think a man must be born
a farmer, like everything else.  It
seems to come easier to me to work
with my head than my hands, 
and it seems to me I have done
so through most of this war.
Do you wonder when I am 
going to finish off this letter?  It 
resembles macaroni to one somewhat, 
all chopped off short and in little
pieces.  Still I know you are
an indulgent correspondent, and
will not criticize my composition.
I worked yesterday 14 hours, being 
the last day of the month.  Today is
slack, and I am writing letters
instead of working.
I must finish off now though 
and do a bit more.
Best love to all, and don't 
forget to keep smiling!
Your affectionate son,
Jim.

No. 1 Command Depot,
Sutton Veny,
Wiltshire,
11. 12. 18

My dearest Mother & Father,
Today i have received your letters of 30/9,
16/10 and 27/10, thanks to having them
sent to Fred Juergens, and although 
I am always awaiting them and
look forward to them from mail to 
mail, at present I almost dread to 
open them for the fear of having some
bad news.
I know too well what a fearful shock 
you have received, and that it has
come as a climax to several years
of almost continual worry. It is too 
much to expect a mother or father 
not to grieve, but I sincerely hope
you will bear up against this stroke 
of adversity and say as I have
heard many French Mothers mutter
when several sons had fallen
"mort an champ d'honneur" "C'est
la Guerre, c'est la guerre". It is
enough to know Les lives in heaven
as surely there is such a place
of God's creation.
I am sorry to say I have not 

2/
yet any immediate prospect of
leaving for home.  You may rest
assured I am leaving no stone 
unturned by which I may achieve
my greatest wish,  which is to 
return and try to comfort you 
in your trouble.
I do not wish you to forget 
Les or the greatest of all acts 
of love and self sacrifice in laying 
down his life for his country,
that we might live, but I pray
that God will strengthen you to
bear your burden of grief the better.
I often lay awake at night
and wonder if in time we shall
forget, forget those who lie asleep,
who did not live to see that
great day in our lives, which 
we have all recently celebrated
and hailed with joy, but which 
through all those black, dark
days seemed too wonderful for 
realization.  I fear that Harry 
already has forgotten, or else did 
not, at any time, realize how nobly
Les was "carrying on" never murmuring against 
hardships and bitter disappointments.

 4
seen by others.
What a horrible thing it is to think 
of such discord in a family of the same
flesh and blood!  Consider a man, who 
lavishes the money entrusted him by
a brother who is risking his life that
he the other might enjoy his life of security and 
prosperity.  And then thanks he gives, 
and the consideration he shows, to his mother
when he achieves a position in which he
can afford to go away, after being helped
along when things were not too bright.
These are some of the things which must
be explained.
They are granting us ten days leave
at Xmas or New Year.  I shall try to 
get over to Rouen if possible. It will
probably be the only opportunity I shall
get of seeing St. Severs Cemetary.
I wrote to Ruby, Gertie and yourselves
a day or so ago, so there is not 
much news left to tell you. Bill
O'Brien leaves for Weymouth tomorrow and will
soon be on his way home. Jack Barry, 
Dick Maher and I did him "bon voyage"
tonight.
Much love to all
Your loving son,
Jim