Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1942 - Part 5

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX11067,
SGT. KESHAN 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

21st May, 1942

AIR MAIL

Kgf.-M- 
Stammlager 
306 (XVIII-D)
27 GEPRŰFT

My Dearest Mac,
Gooday, gooday, gooday. How are you, soldier?
I'll guarantee you've got a smile from ear to ear just now. 
Did you get a whole stack of mail with this letter, sweet?
Do you read all your letters at once, or do you save them
& open one each day. You might set out this way, but if
you are like me, within a few hours, every letter would
be opened and read. But speaking of letters, do you know,
its months now since I heard from you Mac. However,
probably I'll get a lot when they do arrive. Gosh I hope
so. I saw Ray in the building to-day, but he was with somebody 
and I had no chance to speak to him. Mrs Keshan told
me the good news about Mrs. Ray. They must be thrilled to
bits. Now for a surprise - remember old Dave? He left
the building to-day, for a new position. After all that
time it will seem strange not to bump into him each day.
He was a good soul - terribly keen on you. We would talk
for hours, mostly about you. I guess things are meant to
change around now and then. Even I may eventually take
a new position, things being as they are. Our business isn't
exactly suitable to the times are they? Seems ages and ages ago
since those good old days when you were always there, to
talk to, tease and fight with. I can tell you, I was mighty
lonely when you went - still am, Mac darling. George was
home last night, until to-night. We don't see very much of

him these days; he's in the best of health and loving every
moment of it. And what's more, he's getting on. He always
asks if there is any news of you Mac - they all do though.
At the tea table to-night, I asked them, (whole family I
mean) how long it would be, when the war is over,
before you would be home. Well, you just should have
heard the answers. Tormenting creatures! Won't time
drag, my Mac, until you're home. It's dragging now isn't
it? Tennis is still not so good. We have not won a
match for goodness knows how long. However our hopes
are high. Norma and I are going riding on Sunday
morning next. Gee Mac, I'm looking forward to it.
I haven't ridden a horse since last time I was in the Valley
for a day or so. Even then, that was behind my cousin
and bareback. Wonder sweet, if I can still take it.
I'll have a bet with you - if I'm sore the next day, then
you win; if I'm not, then I win. Stakes - one shilling.
Are you on? You've no need to worry about me cheating!
And this time I draw special attention to the stakes. Not
matches, or anything else - just one good old bob. It's getting
to the end of the page again. When you come home I'm
going to write you a ten page letter to prove I still
can. Poor old you, I always did ramble on and on.
Nevertheless you could do worse! Best of luck dearest
Mac. Take good care of yourself. Big Cheerio from all here
at home. Hoping to have you back very soon, but until
that day, chin up - dazzle everyone with your smile, and
remember there's that girl in Aussie who loves you so much - 
Dorothy.

14 Aug. 1942
SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
PAR AVION
Aust. - U.S.A - Portugal

MELBOURNE VIC AUST
2.30PM
29 May 1942

3 PASSED BY CENSOR 301

N.X. 11067 Sgt. M. W. Kesham
Australian Prisoner of War No 3768 in Germany
STALAG XVIIID  132GW/ 306
GERMANY

21 MAY 42

5/7

Miss D. Willeams 37 Byrnes St. Bexley, N.S.W. Australia
3 Opened by Censor
3 Opened by Censor
3 PASSED BY CENSOR 301

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX11067,
SGT. KESHAN M.W,
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768
STALAG 306 (XVIIID) 132 G.W
GERMANY

Kgf.-M- 
Stammlager 
306 (XVIII-D)
13 GEPRUFT

AIR MAIL

From: MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street
BEXLEY N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA

26th May, 1942

My Dearest Mac,
I think I'm beginning to run out of ways to begin
your letters. I have used just about the lot haven't I?
From week to week I figure out different things to tell
you about in my next letter - and anyway it helps to
keep off loneliness. Coming home in the train at night is the
best place, and now that winter's coming on, and it gets
dark so early, I sitee and look out of the window at the
night and think about days to come, when you'll be home
and there won't be just a photo to look at, or a letter to read,
and if I feel like having a punch at you any time I'll be able
to. Only once did I feel like taking a poke at you - can you
guess when? As a matter of fact my sweet, you were pretty
mad yourself at the time - when we get to talking about
Cecil. Often wonder what became of him. It must be years
since I saw him last. When I think now, of what he
tried to do, talking to you as he did - I could jump on him!
Well Mac darling, how's things? Are you well? Let's
see, I suppose, over there in Germany now, it is summer.
Don't go getting sunburnt as you generally do. Can you
get brilliantine Mac- I hope you can't, then your hair
will get a chance to go back to its red colour. Don't please
make it brown darling, 'cause I love red hair. Ever since
I was little I've always wanted real red hair- just like
Gloria's. Would Mr Cosker still be able to call you

"Mopsie", or would you be more like your nickname for
him? Wish I could see you for a minute Mac dear- to
see how you are, and if you still walk with one hand
in your pocket, and all the other things about you
that I remember so well. But I reckon there's some
waiting to do. We had a bonza ride last Sunday morning
Mac. Do you know the riding school at Canterbury? We got
horses there and believe it or not - those horses could, and
did go some. We had some beaut. gallops darl. And I won
 my bet - sorry old thing - you owe me 1/- now. So save your
pennies. 'Cause I wasn't a bit stiff or sore anywhere.
Betty and I went to a dance last Saturday night - just like
old times. We sat and talked in between dances - not
only about the girls' dresses either. By golly she's a funny
girl. Coming home in the train we were all talking of how we
had often lost our train tickets and just walked through and
things like that. I said to Jack (remember my cousin whom
you met on your last visit home here) he shouldn't yell so,
as anybody in the carriage could be an inspector. Betty turned
to some strange man, who happened to be sitting beside us,
& looked right up into his face and asked him "you're not
one of those men, are you?" The man roared with laughter.
Hang it all, here's the end of the page already! Until next
week Mac, I'll have to send you a Big Cheerio, from all
at home - and by the way - if you should happen to
see that Malcolm Kesham would you tell him that
Dorothy Williams, is very much in love with him. Sincerely
Yours, Dorothy

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
18. Aug. 1942
PAR AVION
Aust. - U.S.A.-Portugal

3 PASSED BY CENSOR 382

MELBOURNE VIC AUST
11.30 AM 22 MAY 1942 

Kgf.-M-Stammlager XVIII-D
9 GEPRUFT

N.X. 11067 Sgt. M.W. Kesham
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany
STALAG XVIIID/306/132/GW  5/7
GERMANY

13-26 MAY 42

Marken und Sweifen zwecks
Prűfung  

Miss D. Williams, 37 Byrnes St. Bexley N.S.W. Australia
3 Opened by Censor
3 Opened by Censor
3 PASSED BY CENSOR 382

1-6-42

Dear Dot,
How is my little girlfriend going these days in the best of health and doing well I hope young
lady I'd give anything to be able to see you now sweet and speak to you even if only for a few 
minutes but then one of these I will be able to make up for all this lost time I only hope that day 
is not to far away darl. I wouldnt be a bit surprised if when I see you first Im stuck for
words but I wont have much time for words will I seeing I have to collect all those so
called matches you owe me then you want one for one so that will take quiet a while to
straighten out but at the same time it will be quite a pleasant procedure as far as Im
concerned and I dont think Ill get the lot at once Ill be like the small child you mentioned 
in one of your letters and start a time payment system they'll last longer
that way. Well sweet since I have been working on the farm Im on now I
have done a little horse riding I do a bit of swimming in a pool near by
and I was learning to ski till the snow gave out so I'm doing quite ok you
see and I have a great big new friend a huge St Bernard dog he seems to
think Im the best friend he has I've also got a beaut brown up and at present Im
a picture of health you wont believe some of the things I tell you when I get back
I dont believe some of them myself How is everyone at home Dot within the best of
health and doing well wish them all the best for me once again your mail
has stopped lately worse luck how is mine rolling in these days I guess a fair
few must go astray but Im afraid that cant be helped so far I haven't
received any photos and the only one I was able to get of myself was a
dude dont forget to mention the dates of my letters you receive darl
Well Dorothy once more I must finish I hope you can understand
all this, however take care of yourself sweet Cheerio lots of love Mac

CENSOR

Kriegsgefangenenpost
AIR MAIL
LISBON

2 PASSED BY CENSOR 1424

An Miss . D . Williams

Kgf. - M -Stammlager
XVII - D GEPRŰFT 9
Gebűhrenfreil

Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes St
Strasse: Bexley
Kreis: Sydney N.S.W
Land: Australia
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)

Absender:
Vor- und Zurname: Malcolm William Keshan
Gefangenennummer: 3768
Lager-Bezeichnung M. Stammlager XVIII D 4892
Deutschland (Allemagne)

2  ENED BY CENSOR 

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