Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1942 - Part 4

Dearest Dot    3.5.42 
Well darling it was very good news to hear that at last you have received 
one of my letters though there are a few that have gone astray if thats your first 
it should be your sixth however one now and again is better than none 
right so far I have received five of yours so Im really lucky five of the best 
letters anyone could get. Im glad to hear you are all well wish everyone 
all the best of health for me and tell them I hope its not long to the time 
when Ill be able to wish them all the best myself. Boy you just wait till I get 
back you'll have a hard time getting me to go home my sweet. Im glad to hear you 
didnt receive any bad news about me. Well sweet Im glad we have got things 
straightened out at last sweet. I was a bit worried but now that your sure 
everything is ok I can sleep in peace and dont worry about your wasting 
paper so far you havent wasted a scrap you certainly get some funny 
ideas and as for mentioning our good times to come its only natural 
to mention things Im always thinking of. Im still in the best of health 
and doing well darl though Ive lost a bit of weight Ill certainly have 
some tales to tell when I get back and by the way I hope you have sent 
me a few snaps by this young lady. I thought we had got rid of all the 
snow here till next winter and darned it it didnt snow last week 
but it was quite warm it was 2 deg above and it dont get dark till about 
nine oclock at night. Have you met Gloria yet or any of the Keshan 
clan except yours truly. Well darling once mor I must draw to an 
end so darl take care of yourself for me hoping to be back with 
you soon sweet all my love and Big Cheerio Sincerely Mac.

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
DEPUTY CHIEF FIELD CENSOR 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
S. 106
Stammlager 
Kgf.-M- 
18 
GEPRŰFT 

An Miss. D. Williams 19.V.42 
Empfangsort: 37 BYRNES ST 
Straße: BEXLEY 
Kreis: SYDNEY. N.S.W 
Land: AUSTRALIA 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
[*Gebűhrenfreil*] 

Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: MALCOLM WILLIAM KESHAN 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 
Larger-Bezeichnung: M-Stammlager SVIII D/489L 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST  
NX 11067,  
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,  
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768,  
STALAG 306 (XVIIID) 132 G.W.  
GERMANY. 

FROM: MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA
5th May, 1942

My Dearest Mac, 
Once again its me - just home from physical culture 
and feeling right in the mood for writing. How are 
you keeping Mac? I do hope that you're looking 
after yourself - remember what I'm always telling 
you - there are a lot of people over here, living for 
the day when you arrive back home. And truly, 
it's no underestimation of the rest when I say, 
I top the list. I'm hoping and praying for that 
day, as hard as I can. All clear my sweet? Forgive 
me if I start getting too intense at times, but when 
I reread my letters to you, they seem, well, just 
words on paper & I wonder if you realise how 
sincerely I mean what I say - One reason why I 
would never say anything before. Goodness, lets 
get on with some news before I run out of paper. You 
say you wish you could collect a letter from me 
every week. Don't I wish too, that I could, right 
now, write a really long letter. I'll bet I'd pass the 
ten page mark easily sweet. Had a lovely evening 
last night Mac. Gloria asked me to tea at 
her flat, and Mrs Keshan was there too. We

had a great old chat, as you can imagine, and I 
took her some of the photos of which I had 
duplicates. Those your pal sent me, were all 
in twos Mac. Also she read the letter I received 
from him telling me of your capture, and was 
terribly interested. Gloria's husband is awfully 
nice; and their flat is bonza. Quite large and 
everything they need Even a cat (which I did get 
to like so maybe I could take your Billy and 
like him too - do you reckon? With you, is it a 
case of love me, love my cat? And by the way - 
who taught it to put its arms around a person's 
neck? You, I'll guarantee.) Last week I had 
a surprise, when I saw Harold Rich. You 
remember him, of course. I hope to even see that 
friend of yours McCosker, any day now. Not that 
I have heard from, or of, him lately but I 
have my hopes. And if I should see him; I'll be 
talking him deaf. Well my darling, its getting 
late and there is little room left for more news. 
Everyone here at home is fine. The more I see of that 
mother of yours, the more I like her - with her brown 
eyes so like yours. And I hope we'll be seeing lots 
of each other. For now it's - I nearly said it - a big 
cheerio and all my love. God watch over you my 
Mac and bring you home to me. Sincerely Your 
Dorothy

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
MELBOURNE 
3.30PM 
13 MAY 
1942 
VIC. AUS 
3 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
382 
PAR AVION 
Aust. - U.S.A. - Portugal 
5 May 42 
18. Aug. 1942 
NX 11067 Sgt. M.W.Kesham, 
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany, 
STALAG XV 111DB, (306) 132 G.W 
GERMANY. 
M Stammlager XVill-D 
Marken und Su lr wecks 
Prűfung entie 
AUSTRALIAN 
A 
RED CROSS

Miss. D.Williams, 37 Byrnes St., BEXLEY, 
NEW SOUTH WALES. AUSTRALIA. 
3 Opened by Censor 
3 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
382

Kgf.-M - 
Stammlager 
XVII-D 
GEPRŰFT 

Dearest Dot         10.5.42 
Well darling I had a very pleasant surprise this morning when I received 
two more letters from you gosh they are good to get sweet I also had one from 
Gloria at the same time and it seems you have certainly won my sister over 
young lady even though you two have not meet up to date I hope you 
like her when you do meet darl. Your latest letter was dated 9th Feb and 
sweet I still have your photo only dont let that stop you from sending more 
Well darling if you do keep writing to me I wont mind in the least but the 
only thing is I wont be home to receive them that much Ill be with you most 
of the time. Im glad you are going to write to Bullet Head (McCosker) 
he really is a good chap and Im sure he'd like that and Im sure if you 
meet him you would like him As for the matches I owe you one 
for one is certainly ok with me only there not matches. I suppose 
there have been some good shows out since I left and some good lines to 
you will have to teach them all to me when I get back darl Ill be 
all behind times as far as anything like that goes by gosh we certainly 
have a lot of time to make up when I do get back a devil of a lot: Dont 
forget to wish everyone all the best for me sweet and how are you doing 
yourself in the best of health and enjoying life by the way how 
did the sailing go did you sink the boat: Dont forget to keep the 
mail coming sweet its the best thing I get I write regular once a 
fortnight sometimes more Well darling dont forget to take 
good care of yourself for me And so once again I must come 
to a finish until the next letter Big Cheerio lots of love Malcolm

PASSED BY CENSOR 
S.107 
Kriegsgefangenenpost 22.V.42 
Airmail from Baghdad 
Luftpost - Par avion 
 
PASSED BY CENSOR 
S. 107 
Kgf.-M- 
Stammlager 
XVIII-D 
11 
GEPRŰFT

An MISS. D. WILLIAMS
Empfangsort: 37 BYRNES ST 
StraBe: BEXLEY 
Kreis: SYDNEY. N.S.W 
Land: AUSTRALIA 
Gebűhrenfreil 

Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: MALCOLM WILLIAM KESHAN 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 
Larger-Bezeichnung: M-Stammlager SVIII D/489L 
Deutschland (Allemagne) 
OPENED BY CEN

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST  
NX 11067,  
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,  
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768,  
STALAG 306 (XVIIID) 132 G.W.  
GERMANY. 

FROM: MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA 
13th May, 1942 
AIR MAIL 

My Dearest Mac, 
I've got my chair pulled up in front of the fire, Rex 
is snoring loudly at my feet, and once again I'm set for 
a yarn with you. How are you sweet? Gosh how I wish 
you were here now. I was thinking - coming home from 
work to night, the sky is beginning to look as it did 
when you went away The colour I said I would love 
for an evening dress - remember. Maybe some day I might 
find a dress that colour, with stars sprinkled on the 
skirt. Would you take me out in it, Mac? I wouldn't 
want it now, not all at, if I couldn't go out with you. 
You were right, I know now, when you told me it 
was a waste of time for us too. Never mind darling; 
we're going to have a grand time when you get back!
I lie in bed, thinking & planning, what you'll say & 
what I'll say. Silliest things imaginable I suppose 
I'm warning you my sweet, if you mention the weather 
or even ask me how I am, I'll crown you. 'Cause 
anyone would be able to tell you that there never 
will be such a wonderful day & my health will 
be wonderful on that day Mac. We haven't heard 
from you since your letter dated November, either 
Mrs Keshan or myself. I hope you are getting our 
mail quite O.K though. That's the main thing. We are 
not doing so well with our tennis these days. Either we

have lost form - any we had that is - or else our opposing 
teams have caught up on serve. Anyhow we're taking some 
beatings lately. We have lots of good tennis though and it's 
the game that counts after all. How is your tennis these 
days, Malcolm mine? Have you noticed, that's almost the 
first time I have called you by that name. I wonder why. 
Your mother nearly always call you by that name, perhaps 
it's through listening to her. But if you don't object, I think 
I'll keep calling you Mac. Much more familiar and 
dearer to me. Do you remember sending me a photo of a 
little dog - your mascot you called him? Was his name 
Bobby? For a long time I have been meaning to ask you 
that, but each time it skipped my memory. By the way, 
I have all the letters that were returned to me - those 
written after your capture. Maybe I told you before. 
Anyway I'm saving them for you to read later on. 
Have you still got those photos I sent you, sweet? 
It's getting rather late Mac and almost time to finish 
off. Another day almost gone - one day nearer. Chin up 
Mac ole pal. Watch out for my letters because I 
write every week. Here's hoping you were able to get 
clothes promptly from that English lady. I read 
that bit in a letter to your mother, saying you might 
visit her when it's all over. Wonder how long it will 
take. Very long do you reckon? Cheerio Mac dear 
Best wishes from all the family and as always - 
Lots of Love, and a 'hurry home' prayer. Sincerely 
Your Dorothy