Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1942 - Part 1

Dear Dot, 5 - 1 - 42 
Well darling Christmas and New Year are over and I have another chance 
to drop you a few lines I spent most of my time on my bunk just thinking its quite 
a habit I have, thinking I mean its a bad one at that for all I succeed in doing 
is making myself feel homesick and perfectly miserable. I missed one little 
person more than ever, what with only one letter four photos and my 
memories to keep me company it's not much is it Id give anything to be able 
to see you just for a while sweet but then I suppose that would only make 
things worse so all I can do is hope we will be together for next Xmas 
and when it comes to that Im sure no one could hope harder than I do, if I  
didnt have our reunion to look forward to I dont know what Id do seeing 
it means so much to me. I think we had better change the subject or I will be 
making you miserable. Well how is everything going at home all in the best of 
health and did you have a good Xmas I hope the weather was fine for you 
for I bet you went down to the Valley By the way my matches must be 
mounting up and I warn you right now you haven't got a chance of getting of 
that easy I hope to get some more mail in the next few days theres more 
  
just about due in now life seems to be just one big hope for for me I 
hope for this hope for that hope for everything but Im sure everything 
will turn out ok in the end Dont forget to wish everyone all the  
best for me Im in the best of health and doing well. I hope you 
can understand this alright sweet but you know how it is the 
smaller the better in this case Well darling until next time all my 
love and a great Big Cheerio Yours Sincerely Mac S. A. G.

29 
Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Airmail from Baghdad 
22.1.42.11 
STALAG 306 (XVIIID) 
GEPRUFT 
  
An Miss D Williams 
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes St Bexley 
StraBe: Sydney N.S.W. 
Lands: Australia 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
Gebűhrenfreil 
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Keshan 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 
Lager-Bezechnung: M.-Stammlagar XVIII D | 132 GW 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST. 
NO. NX 11067 
SGT. KESHAN, M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768, 
STALAG 306 (XVIIID) 132 G.W. 
GERMANY 
  
AIR MAIL 
  
FROM: MISS D. WILLIAMS  
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA.
14th January, 1941. (42?) 

Dearest Mac, 
Hello funny old bad penny, how are you 
Do you know, its just as well you do turn up - its good for me. 
Oh gosh Mac, I was so excited when I received your letter, the 
day before yesterday. As usual Mum hid it, and the surprise 
was twofold. I was firmly convinced that you would be unable 
to write to me, sweet. By this, I think you should have the  
first of my letters, and maybe the parcel too. I hope so Mac.  
If only I could get your letters once a week as before. Letters 
become rather precious don't they? The best I can do, is to 
keep waiting & pray you receive them all. Come to think of it 
Mac, we have a lot to be thankful for really; for one 
thing the news that you were believed killed did not come 
through, thank heaven. Missing believed prisoner was 
the news, and that was bad enough. Things are getting better 
as the weeks go by. I mean - first we had news of you, then 
we found we could write, and here I have word from 
you, and perhaps soon even a photo. I'm looking forward 
to that darl. Betty came around the evening I received your 
letter. I was sitting at the window and saw her come through 
the gate, so I rushed round the side to her and yelled 
"Guess what!" Of course she could tell by my yell,  
and my expression she said, & so came right back with 
"Letter from Mac!" And believe me my dear, I am 

still way up in the clouds. But before we go on, let's get one thing 
straightened out between us. (Does this remind you of old times, and 
me starting on a lecture?) You said, have you still a chance, or have 
I got a boyfriend since you left. Well as a matter of fact, soldier, I 
have a boyfriend and between you and I, he's a pretty grand person. 
His description? Well, he's exactly my height and I can prove it, because I have 
a photo of the two of us skating. His hair is brown, with reddish glints and  
a pair of the maddest and most maddening brown eyes - in fact, he looks 
rather like you. Say, have you got little devils chasing you or something? 
When a girl tells you something, can't you take her word for it. And 
if I remember rightly I told you long time ago, I had to be sure first,  
but I would tell you when I sorted thing out. Mac, I am sure 
and things are so clear now, so stop asking silly questions. Perhaps not so 
silly thoughts, because I've been asking you the same questions and I do 
know the feeling. About the photo of us skating though. I had to 
cut your head off to put in a locker of mine. You should see yourself 
darling, without a head, you're really most handsome. You must be 
thinking what a waste of paper all this is, but never mind Mac I will write 
you next week, a letter, brimming with news, and sense. Everyone sends  
kindest regards, and we are all very well thanks Mac. I am too waiting 
and looking forward to our day at the races, and all those shows. You were 
nice to remember them in your letter sweet. Here and now - in 
my first letter, I hope I didn't "darling" you too much. I haven't a clear 
recollection of what I said exactly, but I know I have been choked up for 
months and had to say something. That was the hardest letter to write. Keep loving 
me Mac - and a great big Cheerio. Sincerely ever - Dorothy. 

Kriegsgefangenenlager   Datum 18th Jan 1942 
  
Dear Dot, Well darl how is everything going all in the best of health and 
doing well wish everyone all the best for me and tell them Ill see them soon 
I’m in the best of health and doing well. Since I last wrote I have moved so 
dont forget to note the new address I had been working in a cement factory
but I’m on a farm now which is better. Well sweet take care of yourself and I 
hope to see you soon, how is your pen friendship gang or maybe you have 
seen my brother by this. Well once again it. Cheerio Love Mac

Kreigsgefangenenpost 
Air mail from Baghdad 
Taxe-percue 
18 11 42 (signature) 
Postkarte 
Stalag 306 (X V 111D) GEPRŰFT 
PASSED BY CENSOR S 13 
An Miss. D. Williams 
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: 
Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 
Lager-Bezeichnung: 
M.-Stammlager 306 (XVIII D) 610/6 
Deutschland (Allemagne) 
  
Luftpost- Par avion 
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes St Bexley 
StraBe: Sydney N.S.W. 
Land: Australia 
Landesteil (Provinz) usw.

KREIGSGEFANGENENPOST  
NX11067, 
SGT.KESHAM, M.W, 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768 
STALAG 306 (XVIII D) 132 G.W., 
GERMANY 
  
FROM MISS D WILLIAMS 
37 Byrnes Street 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. AUSTRALIA 
9th February, 1942. 
  
My Dearest Mac, 
I was thinking, as I pulled down the blinds and 
turned on the lamp - when the war is over and you 
are home again, you mustn't be surprised if there is a 
letter arriving at your place every now and then. 'Cause 
even though I'll be seeing you lots, I will never ever 
get out of the habit of writing to you. Friday is still 
my lucky day Mac sweet. Before, your letters arrived, 
either on Friday or Saturday, and lo and behold your cards 
are coming again on Fridays. I received your one, dated 
November 9th, last Friday. Oh Mac it is so good to come  
home from work and find news of you - to see your hand- 
writing there makes me feel so alive somehow. So I think 
you'll have to keep writing to me when it's all over. That a 
bargain darling? Now tell me, - how have you been? 
How I wish the doorbell would ring and I could open it to find 
 you standing there; to say "Hello" to you and be able  
to look at you. That's something to look forward to. Gosh,  
Mac, am I looking forward to each month now. Fancy 
two cards and a letter to come from you. Up to date I 
have had a long letter and two postcards. I am so pleased 
to know you received my first letter, and no doubt ere 
this you will have had lots more. Mum and I went to 
the pictures on Saturday night last. The theatre was at

  
Hurstville and they had the Organ there - and community singing.  The first song they 
put on the screen was "Rose Marie".  I didn't listen to the singing, nor did I sing myself 
I just sat and read the words as they flashed on the screen.  Those words are very dear to 
me, although strangely enough "Rose Marie" doesn't enter into my song at all.  You know all 
those photos you have sent me from time to time - before;  well I am still putting 
them into my album Mac.  One page at a time, they last better that way. When you were little did you suck lollies instead of chewing them to make them last longer? 
Its' the same idea.  I am very proud of that album.  Did I ever tell you about the photos McCosken sent me?  Amongst them was one of you and a pal leaning on one another and looking very happy.  When I acknowledged his letter I said I would write to you and tease you about being on the spree.  Poor McCosken, he was worried I think, because he hastened to say that no, you weren't on the spree, really.  I didn't get around to teasing you though, because in the meantime you were posted as missing and I forgot all about sprees and suchlike.  Oh don't think you're 
going to get out of it my sweet.  Just one more thing I’m saving up for you. And after all, if as you say, I owe you; how many hundreds was it, - matches,  thenI have to get equal with you.  Or else, now this is a thought you might well darling Mac, here's the end of another letter of ours.  There's more following and remember no good byes sweet.  Take care of yourself for me. Big Cheerio and all my Love, Dorothy

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE. 25 Aug 1942 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
PAR AVION 
Aust. - U.S.A. - Portugal 
  
NX 11067 Sgt. M. W. Kesham, 
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany, 
STALAG (306) XIII D , 132 G.W., 
GERMANY. 
  
9 FEB 42 
AUSTRALIAN 
A 
RED CROSS 
  
XVIII-D GEPRŰFT Kgf.-M- 
  
3  
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
294 

Miss D. Williams, 37 Byrnes Street, Bexley, New South Wales, 
AUSTRALIA. 
  
3 Opened by Censor 
  
3 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
294