Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1941 - Part 11

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Part of Quest:
Love Letters - Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams
Subject:
  • Love Letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.14
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Dn 21 Mo. XXII067. Mr W Sge. Keshan D Ry Spat bat Tel d 28 ( 27441 Mis
3 hs L.A.G 1011 DOSW79A
37 bynes Stree Bealey Mucaeday right April 3osh 94 Dear Mac (n satter bid of dading off your letters tha say Ou hav elee can Setsel then by Rear has so thats to foral Darlery has ns thet definitely ast ne is il Deasest har shals better which do you prefer Just nate your pick and you instructions will be causied aud sued well to say has ben a sed letter day for me Tamse thaly aards that is Iseas g he sue lat but who wred aloud tad whe t hae a setter fro I wans you see e have from you dait. You have a idea hew thrilled I was to evertually receive a letter And I hope by this tine you will have received all of nuce too If you are anyding tike me, you mus dowe the patal authorises caales. Speaking for myself. hum is my porcal auhority s se cla that anyday har she will resign Mayse as we go older will be now pasert Anyway who wert to be paverd You calsunly dame ine pander, trying to guees where you an Mac Bonswarsy, Irealue it ca be told becides il gies we santhing to fegue an ty only hap is the ye ecaind on the way to Gpeece Ithink I may be getting gie a little seand suat haw than a little to Shate to bch a newspaper there days te Sunsay las Depeiled
up the Bunday paper o faund straighs away a lis of camothes believed nissing Fre Lebye it was teo bay was I shaling at the laus Isecule disporssly for a sane starting with H upon finding none, once more breathed deeply Thank heavens your same wers there daie Ifaune are name I laww an ald friend apaire whom & played tersis with, a few months before he left Gusans knaw who has happened to hen Oh hac, wpats the good of it all why were was flanees Hiller ever invented tunyand firish them off coldier came hane Apparienly you haven't received any if iay later letter I seens your greater, in, as you say. your only wary m that you will tron enter wi c strep &will you th the youll have ne getttey two y haa perfectly will such a thing prcaulans rapper So, hees new doi waring you fpal One man word and All pmp on you All Cllar: Fine her doling, and go ao fee up with wonghing Dens tel then ge you arreyed And please den go auagary therginash you way we an awfull lal, do you know- when youne away ever them I can' give you a talking to tele Duned to How Imins that, Mar Donte I fee I wans to hawl heneslly Ido Especially when I think of hew barge i wasts so in a thesbe with you, pis before the slaw sned & talk to you leter to you wne I enjoyed there talks with you mnore than the actual alow Even then I haw thal. Maye that why I am
the puateres there day th a heny haw has enser Of you have no alyesions I shall change the subjest Wreting in recasy when it becone blussed& is it In a demend leste to ne hard do you really think Pat Gawin has done nere for himself willaul seen seeg my camer than you have in the yass Diely you not seiaus when you say that sweet Bus she think aboue the wretther Garin lad, Every day: does abe peprste walks in the gatt of a ight Ohap theres a letter there? Dees she got down in the Tumps of week par wihent any of their letters ho essure slipping up there oldepal Defenitely wang dto no passible for fer to think of that a Yaur as O think afryar Haw Deney you you place daip to laws. Ett saunds like a arcan Lucky you to get to lawoat all much ted to fly aewn. And fanry letting a guias naque you, tao on you soldeer! I was highly danas seire the attergi the family at your saying that the beog wauld have to been paes three lines belor they could be sayding tihe clear Gearge has just came hame from drill on reagents was a somithing when I nead him the part oyou letter where you say yaie on baard shipe he seen to theik it will be flace. In ganers sate has, witth an for youself, ald thing Ihall harping, but I can pelp is. The waiting is were than the sdal bewers I think Its sill has, really it is Your last lave saa mawellous dare Aichanes
lasd you for a netile Ihape you geene goo saps of the Pepareds, I d have loved to have seen you apaen your clink to the tap of Cheeps Ill shallenge you to a lease up there ore day toe Senal, I fancy your purspertuve is sore what aud of for ever ther After all Iu fe igh on so wales caued hondly be regarded as a little give, bu then of you like to cel me that O4 Lnis hav'd been so gied lasely dauns to have loe endee for eerything latelyExceps, I think, getting rconding letters to kep them soning has Dred then ha he e o a rea now y y wate Glly dunt o cauld se sn has, Ahis a per hngaunt is in Respetle with Creansna & hun is needing the beby ve little give, theee yurs old we are all going to neas her wher we have to give her back to henmetter His resapt seadlisone the ged bed handly ever augs You jes can help laving her, little wee helplers King we is And eas you tell se oanything swater thant a beay ans of d bast all pandered up you do like dons you; I think Irevember hearing you speak of your buther's chelsrer Apeaking of your bosthe har, I have oever seen her accurd, since you left the building I he aall in Ambralia, or an he marage to ge end the any. He was leying a are reage wain he Fenly exceunally seekay. He new pat se keep he
Deury Henday Carten Clandard fere is saw sleen fiften for Any minite now ep well be in to see if du still up Bu Ill keep giing you as long as Dipoinly a ty Quatte changefom the faim to dawn consequently we don't go to bee very carly bet we sever dis the fire a le was its leseauly paid to leave for a cad red. Ohen again of a moming, bed is hand to leave for a cela fee Renember Issid it was sell wer weather and hen wellow the Sunday fellsuing my los letter, it we erough to freeg d perco Isheere all day Ils with the teve right gaug Ofc May toten Dac Oacor an and thaly feet lsse the yuurs ast a sailar dai atwauld be twere as differelt having do say geedly again again The buest would be parder each tire. dan you think so Mac, tell ae cocig toby sid you yan the an Do allone Mac Please yu alway sax yue a suer- well so an I. Ho satll se aa lause I wontts know If you daid tll se. I'll think you, thu insuldpoctably imate it better again) And is saeabirg onwards and still Daddee law wis a ward were avg well sweet Aew an you keeping brack of all the things were wif to in Iave you got a lis made aut yaid better ges one moe, then as I think of mar theng
Lean Fill your and you canass then an 1960 will find us still working our way through the bess In heping to have my churn Gouelye dawn for a tenday seer beysee he have agaed the to geter we fir in perfectly with are arether Hle wext likely be foured to exquie for me inpo mation on this Gawen lad (Hang my caust) say darn bue there goes 11300 my Dad also Hes swakered with a bunp alrigh. Another week has slifted past weel. We ner week neaer hane. Andsure mane I have to leave you mae tence n wek ande cne netanch Tuder Regards fem all a hensr Cegall send the usual take cases. You will wes yu though Igi so daned wained Mas Soest to renew Das lans behelped Bary desr its wih Lees. Lees of Leve the very fander of wistes toyou you may be for away. bu gaine weth me every day very neas in thoughts Beggis of Beg. Chams Sincerely Always &ex 24x Seathy FFx E& PS your las letter was Dalu Jaget dated Lod Opul in care yaud PP.S.M Phlan hen te lite to
DIIH 214 7/7/41 ho XX11067. Dc. Kechan, M. W. t by ad Br Missing 10 D M, A. S. PON I llerean9 T. McLeet
46 SNTD1SO 50 4

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
*8AP41 - N.S.W. _1 AUST - DNEY* 
No. NX11067, 
Sgt. Keshan,  
"A" Coy., 2/4th Batt  
A.I.F. 
Abroad

GS 
22/2/41 
NOT WITH 2/4 BATT 
  
to. 
26.4.41 
Missing bel. P.O.W. 
Return to Sender on Military Board Instructions 
M 8/7/41 
For O i/c District Records Office 
  
T. L H Kellar

 

S.A.G. 
2. 2 
NOT OPENED BY CENSOR 
FPO 
[[9 JL 41 90A]] 
E611

 

37 Byrnes Street,
Bexley
Wednesday night,
April 30th, 1941 
  
Dear Mac, 
(Im' rather tired of starting off your letters  that way. But  
how else can I start them "My Dear Mac" - no thats too formal.  
"Darling Mac" - no that's definitely not me, is it? "Dearest  
Mac" - that's better - which do you prefer? Just make your  
pick and your instructions will be carried out, sweet) 
Well to - day has been a red letter day for me. From seven  
thirty onwards that is. I didn't get home until late, but  
who cared about that, when I had a letter from you!  
It seems years since Ive’ heard from you darl. You have no  
idea how thrilled I was to eventually receive a letter. And  
I hope by this time you will have received all of mine  
too  If you're anything like me, you must drive the postal  
authorities cookoo. Speaking for myself - Mum is my postal 
authority & she claims that any day now she will resign.  
Maybe as we get older , we'll be more patient. (Anyway who  
wants to be patient.)  
You certainly drive me frantic , trying to guess where you  
are Mac. Don't worry, I realise it can't be told & besides,  
it gives me something to figure out. My only hope is that  
you weren't on the way to Greece. I think I may be getting  
just a little scared sweet. More than a little too. I hate to  
touch a newspaper  these days. On Sunday last I picked 

 

2
up the Sunday paper & found straight away, a list of  
casualties & ‘believed missing'' from Libya it was too &  
boy, was I shaking at the knees! I searched desperately for  
a name starting with K and upon finding none, once more  
breathed deeply. Thank heavens your name wasn't there darl. 
I found one name I knew - an old friend of mine whom I played  
tennis with, a few months before he left. Goodness knows what  
has happened to him. Oh Mac, whats the good of it all!  
Why even was flamin' Hitler ever invented. Hurry and  
finish them off soldier & come home. 
Apparently you haven't received any of my later letters.   
It seems your greatest, or, as you say, your only worry  
in our funny old world is that you will loose contact with  
me.  Stop it will you!  Or else you'll have me jittery too . You  
know perfectly well such a thing just couldn't happen.  So,  
here & now Im’ warning you pal. One more word and I'll  
jump on you.  All Clear?  Fine! 
Mac darling, don't get so fed up with everything.  Don't  
let them get you annoyed And please don't go doing any - 
thing rash.  You worry me an awful lot, do you know -  
when you're away over there I can't give you a talking  
to like I used to.  How I miss that, Mac.  Sometimes I  
feel I want to howl, honestly I do.  Especially when I  
think of how bonza it was to sit in a theatre with you,  
just before the show started & talk to you & listen to your  
voice’.  I enjoyed those talks with you more than the actual  
show.  Even then I knew that.  Maybe thats why I don't

 

3
enjoy the pictures these days.  Oh do hurry home Mac.   
If you have no objections I shall change the subject.  Writing  
isn't so easy when it becomes blurred, is it? 
For a moment listen to me hard.  Do you really think  
Pat Garvin has done more for himself without even seeing  
my cousin, than you have in three years.  Surely  
you're not serious when you say that sweet. Does she  
think about the wretched Garvin lad, every day?   
Does she hope as she walks in the gate of a night "Perhaps  
there's a letter there."?  Does she get down in the dumps if  
weeks pass without any of those letters?  No, you're slipping  
up there old pal.  Definitely wrong.  Its’ not possible for  
her to think of that Pat Garvin as I think of you. 
How I envy you your plane trip to Cairo.  It sounds  
like a dream.  Lucky you to get to Cairo at at all, much less  
to fly down.  And fancy letting a guide rogue you, too.  Shame  
on you, soldier!  I was highly amused & so were the others in  
the family at your saying that the wogs would have to been  
boiled three times before they could be anything like clean. 
George has just come home from drill - or sergeants  
mess or something & when I read him the part of your  
letter where you say you're on board ships he seems  
to think it will be Greece.  For goodness sake Mac, watch  
out for yourself, old thing.  I hate harping, but I can't  
help it.  The waiting is worse than the actual business  
I think.  Its vile Mac ,really it is. 
Your last leave sounds marvellous darl.  It should

 

4
last you for a while.  I hope you get some good snaps of  
the Pyramids, & I'd have loved to have seen you after  
your climb to the top of Cheops.  Ill’ challenge you to a  
race up there one day Mac. 
Sweet, I fancy your perspective is somewhat out of  
focus over there.  After all, Five feet eight or so inches  
could hardly be regarded as a "little" girl;  but then  
if you like to call me that - O.K. 
Tennis hasn't been so good lately.  I seem to have lost 
interest for everything lately - except, I think, getting 
and writing letters.  So keep them coming Mac - I need them. 
Our home has been turned into a nursery & is now 
ruled by a eight months old babe.  Golly I wish you 
could see her Mac, she's a pet.  My aunt is in hospital 
with pneumonia & Mum is minding the baby & a 
little girl, three years old.  We are all going to miss 
her when we have to give her back to her mother.   
Shes’ so soft & cuddlesome & the good kid hardly ever 
crys.  You just can't help loving her, little wee helpless 
thing she is.  And can you tell me of anything sweeter 
than a baby out of a bath & and all powdered up.  You 
do like them don't you;  I think I remember hearing you 
speak of your brother's children.  Speaking of your brother, 
Mac, I have never seen him around, since you left the 
building.  Is he still in Australia, or did he manage to get 
into the army?  He was trying at one stage wasn't he.  
I only occasionally see Ray.  His new job must keep him

 

5
busy these days. 
Eastern Standard time is now eleven fifteen pm.  Any 
minute now Pop will be in to see if I'm still up.  But 
I'll keep going for as long as I possibly can.  My Auntie 
Marg from the farm, is down & consequently we don't get 
to bed very early - but we never did.  The fire is lit 
now & its certainly hard to leave for a cold bed.  Then 
again of a morning, bed is hard to leave for a cold floor.  
Remember I said it was still warm weather out here? 
Well on the Sunday following my last letter, it was 
enough to freeze a person.  I shivered all day.  Its winter 
this time right enough. 
Often Mac, when I see sailors around the city, I feel 
thankful that you're not a sailor darl.  It would be 
twice as difficult having to say goodbye again & again.  
The break would be harder each time.  Or don't you 
think so? 
Mac, tell me something?  Why did you join the army? 
Do tell me Mac.  Please!  You always say you're a 
trier - well so am I.  So do tell me darl.  'Cause I 
want to know.  If you don't tell me, I'll thump 
you, (but would probably make it better again.) 
Time is sneaking onwards and still Daddie hasn't said 
a word.  Wer’e doing well sweet. 
How are you keeping track of all the things we're 
going to do. Have you got a list made out.  Youd 
better get one Mac, then as I think of more things

 

6
I can tell you, and you can add them on.  1960 will 
find us still working our way through the list. 
Im’ hoping to have my cousin - Jocelyn - down for 
a holiday soon.  Very soon.  We have a grand time 
to-gether. We fit in perfectly with one another.  So 
I'll most likely be forced to inquire for more information 
on this Garvin lad.  (Hang my [[cares?]]!). 
Sorry darlin' but there goes 11.30 and my Dad also.  
He's awakened with a bump alright.  Another week 
has slipped past sweet.  One more week nearer 
home.  And once more I have to leave you Mac.  
Until next week-end, or sometime next week 
anyway. 
Kindest Regards from all at home.  They all 
send the usual "take cares".  You will won't you 
though.  I get so darned worried Mac.  Honest to -
goodness I do.  - Can't be helped. 
So my dear it's with Lots and Lots of Love & the 
very fondest of wishes to you.  You may be  
far away, but you're with me every day- very 
near in thoughts. 
Biggest of Big Cheerios. 
Always - Sincerely 
xxx xxx Dorothy 
xxx xxx 
PS.  Your last letter was 
dated 2nd April in case you'd 
like to know.  Love Dot. 
P.P.S. I almost forgot 
Heya 
- Who do you love?

 

BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
NOT WITH 2/4 BN. 
8/7/41 
30-4-41 
*I* *C* 
  
No. NX11067, 
Sgt. Keshan, M.W., 
"A" Coy., 2/4th Bn. 
A.I.F. 
Abroad 
  
Missing 
Bel. A.W.L.
P.O.W. 
T.[[?]] Kellar 
  
Retun to Sender on Military Board Instructions 
JUL 1941 
For Oi/c District Records Office 
9

 

S.A.G. 
2   
NOT OPENED BY CENSOR

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