Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1941 - Part 2

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Love Letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.14
Difficulty:
2

Page 1 / 10

A bay g t Mur. Inf. Ingly A.S.s. Alroad 20s Jany Dear Dot with pen and pad to see if I can Here I am dan news etc, there is not very much with a xpage or two to tell you, and I doult if I will get very far, but Ill try, Im nat feeling as good as I could to day, a little cranty, or please excuse any mistakes you may find I dont know if you are still getting my letters regular dar I hope you are, but there seems to be a bit of a hold up with yours I thaven had one for a ling time naw it munt be fully eighteen says since the last, they may be getting hell up backa camp still I dent mind them being a little late as seng as I ge them, and if I dent well, I went say any more. The weather here haant been the best lately we have had fair bit of rain and believe me this place is bad enaugh with out rain, it has also been very windy and when its windy the air is full of sand, so taking it all raund this place gives me the pip, maybe I have been thinking to much the last few some of the chaps went up to Haye lart week end and when they came back they said it was a great place, so maybe I mused something while I was up there, or it might be that they have different ideas of whats good shan I so, you see Im not to sayy ht feet ber the week to please, I was
a little homerick, that might account for it I dow know of I like I can go up again over the week end, or to hazarell, I may i one or the ather it all depends on the old study it might be necessar to fill my time in doing a dit, I did intend to go up through Haifa and acrow the border into Syria but I believe they have closed we uorder so that end that idea Enclosed you will find a few maps the names of the places are bed on the backs of them, I hope you like them, some are not to good we had to get a Wog to take the one in Transfordan and he maved the camera, thats aho a good wap of me in the one taken at the Dead sea, by the way I have a few more refills Im picking up on Saturday and I will send them as soon as porsible, by the te be senber y go tt h reteed be bu Haws is everything gaing did you enjay your halidays, its silly of me to ack that quidtion because I know the answer, you know Id ink I will have to visit Australia one of these days and go dawn to the Valley to see just what the big attraction is, maybe its an old flame so to speck, I wonder Tell me Oat did you figure out the ame of that rong. Wont be long naw sarl ts geltling very hand so think of something to write, by the way don't forger to wish your trum and Dad all the ho B and George when you see him, how bect for me will yau and is be gaing dill thing it. Well evee by as I may I can thind of anything to tel you so Im afreis I will have to sign off naw not that I want to but I just cant get the ald next week Big Cluni ain to werk so tto tate of have and you will exe yaung Very sincerely Es Jorny its so wore an d hope. X A mel
Mirs. D. Williams. 37 Byrnes W Benley. Bydney p. 1.w Authalia.
Sgt Krbeen m ct Mory heneren Received 10/2/41 2 &
A bay ogth Aurst Inf Inghn A.3. Abroad 27 fan . Dear Dot Once again Ii abreus to rack the old brain to ree if I can think of something that is of interest to write about, and when I say rack the old brain I mean it, but hawever here gais, you cans say Ididnt try, and good or bod which ever it may be your going to get your letter Well up to sate I still haven had a letter from you dunl, at least that so not for just on a month, and believe me it seems a lat longer I quess they must be getting held up some where, or wait a minute maybe yau are sending them by boat mail its selly of me not to have thought of that before trust me not to think of it I quise I must have been forgetting that it conto mency to send letters Air mail and besides Im not worth nine pence, Im serry sweet Do you remember in my lart letter I said I would probably yor to Haifa or Jenisalion over the week end that was if things were going o well I didn go anywhere not that it was necessary to study sue got this next exam all sown up and in the bag, I think, but S just didn't feel like it I may go next week and it all depends, I have to go back cometime next week end All I have been doing lately so gaing to the pictures during the night time I reem to be picture mad, but then its all they have around here to take your mind off things, and in that manner they
very useful at times you get very down in the dumps after dair a bit of thinking some times I go four times a week, the pictures are all ald ones to to, and cut is not the wind for it; in some cares if they shause the pieces they cut out you would see more than they octually shew. I was standing outside the tleatre last night waiting for a lani and listening to the music when it rusdenly occured to me that I will have to learn to dance all over again o when I get back, mat hat I ever could dance, but its that ling since I have danced that I just about forget Law Enclosed you will find a few more maps, once again I hope you like them some were taken in Cairo and others in ferusation I still cant tell you anything about bairs wven though Im sending maps from there, on the back of one of the Pyramids, you will find a small circle well if you could see that wrcle on the other side, you would find there was a chap sanding inside it its tac, no not me the other one standing in the Pyramed, his tume so the same colour as the buck ground or so he is hard to see Please excurse the mistakes it darl, you will probably find plenty of them but even though I have this exam in the bag I have to do a bit of study as the exam is en Wednesday. Once again Im getting near the end sweet and dent forget to wish every one all the bert for me will yau, and sent forge that phat I feel ashaed af these letter darl honett they are so short, and should be able to fill page after page
Well Im on the third page sanl, but only just and thats all, well I quers thats the lat suret I was going to keep it until to moraw to see if I could add a little to it but to morraw will be a bad day for writing letters dare so I think I will port it to night, and if there is anything to tell you will I can put it in next weeks letter so once again its until next week when I will be writing again hats of have and take cure of yourself Great Big Churio Very Sincerely Yours Ary Ahefyry a Illad
Mirs. D. Williams 37 Bymnes S. Bexley. Sydney. W.P.W. Australia
Received 1/2/44
A bay yg Aur Iry Ing lin A.S.S. Abroad 4th Feb. 1940 Dear Dat York darl, you remember me gaing croak about not getting any letters at the school, well when I amied back at camp there were three waiting for me, and I received another the very next day, just as well I was getting worried, but gee it was great to get them, I dont kenaow what I would have done if they had not been there. Im glad to hear you are still ing mine regular, and I'm sorry they are not bigger and better, but Lonerly savl there is so little that I can write about, of cause I could write certain things that wanls help to fill the payes, but you would only get mad at me, and above all I sont want yuu to do that Well anyhaw In gaing to read through your letters once again, one at a time and answer the lat so here goes the first one is dated 20 Dac well Im glad you liked any number four and that two days certainly was a bit of a break or halidas which ever you like, but I want have preferred one night with you sweet It would be better than any have they could ever give me. Well Im serry but I cant answer the rext queation because I don't knew wly they have concrete sance poons, that is unliss it because timber is so searce in this hell hale, wood is very hand to get and I think a good dance floor woul be rather expensie, but thats the only reason I can think of. Iin glad your liked ay discription of the Grunden of Guthsemeny att duit to be Loner I thaught it was perfectly watten my discription I mean of caus

'A' Coy 19th Aust. Inf. Tng. Bn 
A.I.F. 
Abroad 
20th Jan 41. 

Dear Dot, 
Here I am again darl with pen and pad to see if I can 
fill a page or two with a little news etc, there is not very much 
to tell you, and I doubt if I will get very far, but I'll try.  I'm not  
feeling as good as I could to-day, a little cranky, so please excuse  
any mistakes you may find. 
I don't know if you are still getting my letters regular darl  
I hope you are, but there seems to be a bit of a hold up with  
yours I haven't had one for a long time now, it must be fully  
eighteen days since the last, they may be getting held up back at  
camp, still I dont mind the being a little late as long as I get  
them, and if I dont, well I wont say any more. 
The weather here hasn't been the best lately we have had  
a fair bit of rain and believe me this place is bad enough with  
out rain, it has also been very windy and when its windy  
the air is full of sand, so taking it all round this place gives  
me the pip, maybe I have been thinking to much the last few  
days. 
Some of the chaps went up to Haifa last week end and when  
they came back they said it was a great place, so maybe I missed  
something while I was up there, or it might be that they have  
different ideas of what's good than I do, you see Im not to easy  
to please, I wasn't feeling the best the week end I went up a little 

 

(2) 

a little homesick, that might account for it I dont know, if I like  
I can go up again over the week end, or to Nazareth, I may visit  
one or the other it all depends on the old study it might be necessary  
to fill my time in doing a bit, I did intend to go up through Haifa  
and across the border into Syria but I believe they have closed the  
border so that end that idea. 
Enclosed you will find a few snaps the names of the places are  
marked on the backs of them, I hope you like them, some are not  
to good, we had to get a Wog to take the one in Irans Jordan and he  
moved the camera, thats also a good snap of me in the one taken  
at the Dead Sea, by the way I have a few more refills Im picking  
up on Saturday and I will send them as soon as possible, by the  
time this reaches you, you should have received the Album. 
Hows is everything going did you enjoy your holidays, its silly  
of me to ask that question because I know the answer, you know I  
think I will have to visit Australia one of these days, and go down  
to the Valley to see just what the big attraction is, maybe its an  
old flame so to speak, I wonder. Tell me, Dot, did you figure out the  
name of that song. 
Won't be long now darl its getting very hard to think of something  
to write, by the way don't forget to wish your Mum and Dad all the  
best for me will you and also B and George when you see him, how  
is he going still liking it.   
Well sweet try as I may I cant think of anything to tell you so Im afraid  
I will have to sign off now not that I want to but I just cant get the old  
brain to work So its lots of love and until next week "Big Cheerio"   
P.S Sorry its so short and hope you will excuse me. 
Yours Very Sincerely 
Mac xxxx         
          xxxx        
          xxxx 
         x x x 

 

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
BASE CENSOR 
       
Miss. D. Williams 
37 Byrnes St. 
Bexley. 
Sydney. 
N.S.W. 
Australia.

 

Sgt. Keshan M W 
NX11067 
  
Received 10/2/41 
S.A.G. 

A.F.W. 3312 
EXAMINED BY

 

"A" Coy. 19th Aust.Inf.Tng.Bn.
A . I . F .
Abroad
27.Jan.41 
  
Dear Dot, 
Once again I'm about to rack the old brain to see if I can think 
of something that is of interest to write about, and when I say rack 
the old brain I mean it, but however here goes, you cant say I didnt 
try, and good or bad which ever it may be your going to get your letter 
Well up to date I still havent had a letter from you darl, at least 
that is not for just on a month, and believe me it seems a lot longer 
I guess they must be getting held up some where, or wait a minute 
maybe you are sending them by boat mail its silly of me not to 
have thought of that before, trust me not to think of it. I guess I must 
have been forgetting that it costs money to send letters Air mail and 
beside Im not worth nine pence. Im sorry sweet. 
Do you remember in my last letter I said I would probably go 
to Haifa or Jerusalem over the week end that was if things were going 
ok well I didn't go anywhere not that it was necessary to study Ive 
got this next exam all sown up and in the bag, I think, but I just 
didn't feel like it. I may go next week end it all depends, I have to 
go back sometime next week end. 
All I have been doing lately is going to the pictures during the 
night time I seem to be picture mad, but then its all they have 
around here to take your mind off things, and in that manner they

 

(2) 

are very useful at times you get very down in the dumps after doing 
a bit of thinking. some times I go four times a week, the pictures  
are all old ones two to, and cut is not the word for it, in some cases 
if they showed the pieces they cut out you would see more than they 
actually show. 
I was standing outside the theatre last night waiting for a taxi 
and listening to the music when it suddenly occured to me that I 
will have to learn to dance all over again & when I get back, not 
that I ever could dance, but its that long since I have danced that 
I just about forget how 
Enclosed you will find a few more snaps, once again I hope you 
like them. some were taken in Cairo and others in Jerusalem. I still  
cant tell you anything about Cairo even though Im sending snaps from 
there, on the back of one of the Pyramids, you will find a small circle, 
well if you could see that circle on the other side, you would find 
there was a chap standing inside it, its Mac, no not me the other 
one standing on the Pyramid. his tunic is the same colour as the  
back ground as so he is hard to see. 
Please excuse the mistakes etc darl, you will probably find 
plenty of them but even though I have this exam in the bag 
I have to do a bit of study as the exam is on Wednesday. 
Once again Im getting near the end sweet and don't forget to 
wish everyone all the best for me will you, and don't forget that photo 
I feel ashamed of these letters darl honest they are so short, and  
I should be able to fill page after page.

 

(3) 

Well Im on the third page darl, but only just and thats all, well I 
guess that's the lot sweet I was going to keep it until to-morrow to see 
if I could add a little to it but to-morrow will be a bad day for 
writing letters darl so I think I will post it to-night, and if there 
is anything to tell you well I can put it in next weeks letter 
So once again its until next week when I will be writing 
again Lots of love and take care of yourself "Great Big Cheerio" 
Very Sincerely Yoursx  x 
Mac x  x  x 
 x  x  x  x 
 x  x  x  x  x 
 x  x  x  x 
x  x  x 
 x  x 
 x 
PS How is George going still l liking it 
Mac

 

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
  
Miss D. Williams. 
37 Byrnes St. 
Bexley. 
Sydney. 
N.S.W. 
Australia 
  
PASSED BY CENSOR 
No. 2196

 

Received 11/2/41 
S.A.G. 

 

"A" Coy. 19th Aust.Inf.Tng.Bn.
A . I . F .
Abroad
4th.Feb.1940. 

Dear Dot, 
Gosh darl, you remember me going crook about not getting any 
letters at the school, well when I arrived back at camp there were three 
waiting for me, and I received another the very next day, just as well I 
was getting worried, but gee it was great to get them I dont know what I 
would have done if they had not been there. I'm glad to hear you are still 
receiving mine regular, and Im sorry they are not bigger and better, but 
honestly darl there is so little that I can write about, of course I could 
write certain things that would help to fill the pages, bu you would only 
get mad at me, and above all I dont want you to do that. Well anyhow Im 
going to read through your letters once again, one at a time and answer 
the lot so here goes the first one is dated 28th Dec well Im glad you liked 
my number four and that two days certainly was a bit of a break or holiday 
which ever you like, but I would have preferred one night with you sweet 
it would be better than any leave they could ever give me. Well Im sorry 
but I cant answer the next question because I dont know why they have 
concrete dance floors, that is unless it because timber is so scarce in this 
hell hole, wood is very hard to get and I think a good dance floor would 
be rather expensive, but thats the only reason I can think of. I'm glad 
you liked my discription of the Garden of Gethsemany etc but to be 
honest I thought is was perfectly rotten my discription I mean of course

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