Letters of Malcolm William Keshan, 1940 (Part 10)

2/4 Bn. 4th Reinf.
A.I F.
Abroad 

Dear Dot, 
Well darl, just a few more lines to let 
you know how everything is going, etc. 
Gosh the weather is getting hot, I had a 
bake in the sun this morning, and now Im starting 
to feel it a bit, I think that I might of had just a 
little to much. 
I hope you received my other letters ok,
and what is more, I hope they didn't bore you
to much. 
While haveing dinner the other night, I received 
a reminder of one of these, glorious, night I had 
not so very long ago, although it seems a 
terrible long time ago to me, you see the orchestra 
played, 'Little Alice Blue Gown', then blowed if they 
didn't play your favorite "Star Dust". You might 
remember in one of my letters that I said I was

(2) 
not sure just what I wanted, well I am now, as a 
matter of fact I knew all the time, it was just 
that after reading a few letters I received, I'd 
say to myself whats the use, I guess if I don't 
cut it out you will be blowing my head of, Im 
doing just what you don't want me to ( [[albe?]] same
no can help) 
When we left the last Port, we had a wonderful 
send of, and during our stay there the people 
gave everyone, a real good time, they took us 
round in their cars, and showed us all the 
sights etc, and Im sure everyone had a good time. 
My cabin mate, well he's a fine fellow, but 
he reckons I will be the death of him yet he 
said Im enough to make an angel swear, can 
you beat that. 
I have just been out on the deck darl, just 
sitting in a chair, watching the water and the 
stars and there is a lovely cool breeze, blowing, 
its ideal conditions under which to do a bit

(3) 
of heavy thinking, but if I was to write what 
I was thinking, you would probably go into 
a war dance. 
Actually there is nothing much that happens 
on board, we just do our work, if any, in the 
morning and in the afternoon we do Physical 
Culture, play deck games, read, sleep, anything 
like that. 
Funny thing, but here we are out here, 
surrounded by water, the weather is excellent 
for swim and there is not a chance 
of us having same. 
We have a real swing orchestra on board 
now, the chaps raked it up between them , 
they were not so good at first, but now that 
they are gating used to each other's playing, 
they are rather good, that makes two orchestras 
we have now. 
I think the first night out from the last 
port, was about the roughest we have had so

(4) 
far, it was extra funny to, you see the steward 
had the tables set for dinner, when the boat 
started to roll, well all of a sudden, over to 
one side rolled the boat, and away went everything, 
it just sailed across the table onto the 
floor, there was crockery etc, every where, and
when we were finally seated, one of the chaps at our 
table just tumbled over backwards, chair and 
all, and while one of the chaps at another 
table was laughing at him, a silver dish 
containing gravey just sailed across the table 
and landed in his lap, they had to take 
everything of the table except what we were 
useing in the finish. 
How is everyone at home Dot , all keeping 
well I hope? Are you still haveing good times 
going to plenty of dances etc, and keeping late 
hours ? I surpose so, I'd certainly like to be 
helping you keep those late hours, and how. 
I hope at the end of our pleasure cruise

(5) 
to have a few snaps to send you I might be 
able to send some before the end I'm not sure 
but if it is possible I will, the only trouble 
is the might not be to good because we have 
to develope them on board and it's very awkward 
By the way after thi telling you to tell 
Ray I would write to him later on I decided 
to drop him a few lines the same day, I 
surpose you know that now, so I wont ask 
you to do it again, as Im liable to change 
my mind again, Im worse than a woman as 
the saying goes. 
You would laugh if you were on this boat 
Dot honest, the things some of these chaps get 
up to, you just could not help laughing, they 
christened the chief Trapdoor, because they reckon 
that you can never tell where he will pop 
up 
I will let you in on a secret, I just tipped 
a bottel of ink all over the floor, I was filling

(6) 
my pen, when all of a sudden it slipped and
as a result there is ink everywhere but in
the pen, darn it.
My sunburn is getting very sore Dot, it 
will teach me a lesson, so they say, but I
have been burnt worse before to-day, I guess
it takes a long while, to drum anything into
my thick head.
Im starting to get stuck for something to
write darl, which is no doubt a relief for
you, I bet you say, three cheers for the finish.
Well my sweet, later on I hope to have
lots of things to tell you, about, and maybe
these letters will be a little more interesting
then, I could tell you more I now but the
censor would only cut it out, so you see how
it is.
Until just recently I seemed to be putting
on weight but now it's getting that hot
that Im sure I have lost all I ever

(7) 
gained and a little more I'm simply melting
away, the heat seems to be getting
worse all the time, it's just as well I
don't wear a shirt, all the time, or I
would have a fair sized laundry bill,
the perspiration simply runs out of me, 
but most of the time I go round in 
shorts only.
Just a while ago, I was in the loung 
with a few of the boy's, having a little 
talk, when all of a sudden some one 
mentioned what they would be doing if they 
were back home, well when my turn came 
I took a lot for granted, and said I would 
either be at, Bexley, having a marvellous 
time at a dance, of or at a show 
I just got a few of my snaps back darl, 
but they did not come out to good, as I said 
its very awkward on the boat, so I think I 
will leave the rest till I can get them

(8) 
printed correctly, the one's I have are all pink, 
and there is only one, that is any good at all, 
it was taken in the last port, when I was on 
picquet duty. 
We had a bit of a concert this afternoon, 
it wasn't bad either, a little community singing, 
and some of the chap's got up and gave us 
a solo, some were good and some bad, but 
they all were trier's. 
I was a bit lucky to get the cabin that 
I did, you see the orchestra is just about in
front of our door, when it is playing, and we 
just have to open the door switch the fan 
on, and stretch out in the bunk, and listen in 
comfort. 
Gosh I don't know what has come over me 
lately, once it took me all my time to write 
three pages, though when it all boiled down, 
I could probably tell you all I have in 
about two.

(9) 
As you will no doubt notice, I made sure 
that I addressed my letter, so there was very
little chance of it going astray. 
So far I have not, grown a mustache, and I have not,
had all my hair shaved of, not yet anyhow. 
Don't forget that big letter I'll be waiting for it and 
make sure it's bigger than the last one don't forget 
the bigger the better. 
Well Dot once more I must come to a finish 
and once again it is until the next time "Big Cheerio" 
Lots of love XXXXXX 
Sincerely Yours XXXXX 
Mac XXXX 
XXX 
XX 
X 
 

P.S. Wish your mother & father all the best for me. 
And old Dave if you see him. MK 
P.P.S. This geography is all hooey Dot. I have 
been straining my eyes all day and Im blowed 
if I have seen any line, it's very hot though,
and I wouldnt mind in the least if father neptune 
gave me a ducking. MK 

AIR. MAIL 
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL 
FORCE 
PASSED BY CEN SCR 
493 
M.M TRANSPORT 

Miss D Williams. 
37 Byrnes St. 
Bexley. 
Via Sydney. 
New. South. Wales 
Australia. 

Letter No 3 
Received 11/11/40 
(Armistice 
Day)