Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1942 - Part 6

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX 11067,
SGT. KESHAM, 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.
2nd June, 1942.

Dearest Mac,
I'm so excited, I hardly know where to begin. To-day
I received a letter from you sweet. Dated 5th Jan.
Oh I've waited so long for word from you and at last it
has arrived. It's so good to hear from you! You said
though, that you had still only one letter from me;
however by now, more would have reached you I'm
sure. I write every week Mac. Darling stop being miserable,
'cause things will work out in the end. They always do
if you are only patient and wait long enough. So just
you keep hoping, like me, as hard as your hoper
can hope, and next Xmas I pray we'll be to-gether again.
So you haven't forgotten those silly old matches. Not
really silly though - yes they're mounting up, but you
had better get in some training in running, just in case
I get a fit of shyness and run off. You know sweet, I
often lie awake at nights and laugh when I think of all
the things we're going to say & do when we meet again - that
is, according to us. An onlooker might see two people stand
speechless, or with a mere "Hullo" for each other. That onlooker
won't know how we'll be feeling though will he my Mac?
You bet wrongly about Xmas and the Valley didn't you?
The first time for years that I missed going down. As a
matter of fact, I haven't even had my holidays yet. My
cousin rang me from Nowra this morning to tell me she was

2./

coming down to me next week-end. Told me she was
almost married and she was bringing "him" down to meet
the bridesmaid - meaning me. Whether she is serious or
not I don't as yet know. She has so many lads around,
that I ask how 'so and so' is, only to be told "Uh no,
it's so and so, now." I wonder how she can be bothered.
Perhaps she should have met that Pat Ganven - that
his name? - after all. They'd be a good pair. Anyhow we
might do a spot of skating on Saturday night. Pictures
are out, because I'm not "playing gooseberry" for even my
beloved cousin. At skating she'll have to have me to help
cart "him" around, I suppose. I'm getting mighty chilly
sitting here in my bedroom - the rain is lashing outside.
and my bed looks very inviting. I just know they'll be
sweet dreams I'll have to-night. Flattered sweet - well
you should be anyhow. I concentrate very hard on your
photo last thing at night to help me dream of you.
Sometimes it works too. A couple of times I've dreamt you
were back and only said a very cool sort of "hullo" and
just passed on. My goodness I'll jump on you if you
dare! I'm so glad you still have the photos darling.
I've been wondering about those. Well Mac m'dearest
I can hardly wait to hear from you again. Always
was greedy though. Take care of yourself darling. You're
very precious you know. Best wishes from all the family.
Mum was as pleased as punch when your letter arrived. So
until next week, and always - All my Love & Big Cheerio
Ever yours Dorothy

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
PAR AVION
Aust. - U.S.A. - Portugal
-3 Sept 1942
 2 June 42

N.X. 11067 Sgt. N.W. Kesham,
Australia n Prisoner of War No 3768 in Germany
STALAG XVIIID B    (306)    489/1
 
MELBOURNE
5 36PM
26 JUN
1942
VIC
 
PASSED
BY
CENSOR
216
 
AUSTRALIAN
+ A
RED CROSS
 
5/7

Miss D. Williams 37 Byrnes Besley N.S.W. Australia
3 Opened by Censor
3 Passed by Censor 216

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX 11067,
SGT. KESHAM, 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.
9th June, 1942.

My Dearest Mac,
Here it is Tuesday night round again and that means "Letter to Mac"
night to me. Another letter from you arrived to-day - golly am I
pleased! That's the second in two weeks. It seems like old times to
get so many at once. This letter is dated the 14th December and in it
you say you're expecting some more mail in soon. I hope it arrived
sweet. I know how much you must look forward to word from
home. Mrs. Keshan was in to see me during the lunch hour to-
day to tell me she had received mail from you, so I felt sure
there would be another letter for me at home and Mac if you could
have seen me race up that hill from the station. Mum was so
disappointed that I knew about it 'cause she had planned on sur-
prising me. Say, what is it about you darling, that gets you
your own way always. When I told Mum and Dad your idea
about our first night to-gether, not only was it accepted, but
Mum said to tell you, you would have to stop the night too,
or else you'd be walking home at all hours in the morning. But I
think Daddie will have to get used to the idea a bit more, however
you have a good pleader here so don't worry. I don't think you're
greedy sweet, or if you are, then so must I be. Seems to me, I can
think of nothing but that wonderful day you return. I had to
laugh at that portion in your Mother's letter saying everyone will
be so grown that you won't recognise us - much. Ah Mac darling
I wish you were here right now, even if only for a few hours, or
minutes even, just time enough to let me see you. Perhaps you are

right, it would be harder parting with you again.  Regarding
those photos, I will make enquiries as to the methods of address etc
and you shall have them sweet. As I write now, it will be
getting warmer over there - summer well on it's way I hope.
Cold weather is dreadful even here and in Germany it must
be freezing. Any chilblains darl?  We are well in the cold
months now and with the cold and dark nights drawing in
I like to stay at home by the fire, sewing or reading or knitting.
Only on Tuesday nights there is physical culture of course.
Wednesday I listen to the radio or maybe Mum & I wander
down to the local theatre. Thursday and Friday nights are
spent at home as a rule and Saturday its tennis in the after-
noon and either a dance or pictures in the evening. I have been
skating only once so far Mac. Norma and I don't like going
without George. If we should have any trouble with brother George
on our night Mac, I can call in Norma and she'll carry him off.
Every time he comes home he bounds around to see her, and in
fact he always turns up when Norma and I are going somewhere and
upsets everything. Norma is thrilled naturally, but two's company
and I hate to make it a crowd. I'm looking forward to Monday
night next darling. Mrs Keshan's coming out home for tea and
another good yarn. She's the nicest person Mac - I do like her. Noone
could get in a word edgeways when we get to-gether.  I like her
to tell me tales about you and Norm and Jack. Please don't be
too lonely darling. We're thinking of you all the time and praying
for you to come home soon. Take care of yourself sweet. Keep up
that chin, and here's to that night Mac. Big  cheerio and all my
love._ Dorothy S.A.G.

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
PAR AVION
Aust. - U.S.A. - Portugal
9 June 42

N.X. 11067. Sgt. N.W. Kesham,
Australian Prisoner of War in Germany No. 3768.
STALAG XVIII D. B    (306)    132  G.W.
GERMANY
 
3
PASSED
BY
CENSOR
268
12. Aug. 1942
 
MELBOURNE
 
AUSTRALIAN
+ A
RED CROSS
 
5/7

From Miss D. Williams 37 Byrnes St.  Bexley N.S.W. AUSTRALIA
3 Opened by Censor
3 PASSED BY CENSOR 268

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX 11067,
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768
STALAG 306 (XVIIID) 489/L.
GERMANY
 
AIR MAIL
 
FROM: MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY.  N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA.
16th June, 1942.

My Dearest Mac,
Hi there! How are you - 'way over there? Lets' see, I suppose
when you receive this letter you'll be as brown as a berry , and just
getting over summer, thinking perhaps of cold weather not so far away.
This Tuesday I haven't had another letter from you (greedy am I not?)
although I felt sure I would because Mrs Keshan received a third one
last Thursday. She gave it to me to read when she came out here
yesterday. I was so glad to find that you were on a farm and learning
to ski too! Gosh sweet, you'll have to teach me when you come
home. It must be a wonderful sport. By now you must be quite an
accomplished skier. How do you like farm-work? Ill' give you a race
when you get back, at milking cows - what say? Mac, you should
see my bedroom - every time mum comes in she says " my good-
ness" and shakes her head. On one dressing table there is my
little photo which you gave me; on one end of my bookcase I have
the enlargement which Mrs Kesh gave me (in its frame and bonza)
and now at the other end is a larger one still which she lent me
for a while. So you see, I have three Macs to look at now. Do you
think me crazy Darl? Honestly - I'm not, at least, only about one
person anyhow. Had a holiday yesterday, and your Mother came
out to see us. We had a funny afternoon with lots of laughs. I
remembered your request for photos and took a whole film of them
to send with my next letter so watch out for them Mac. By the
way, have you been able to send those you promised? Gee, I
wonder will I get another letter to-morrow. I have only had the

two within the last fortnight, since Christmas, not many is it?
Darling I heard some of the funniest stories yesterday about a little
 boy who was dreadfully mischievous. He would hide in huge
dint-bins just after he’d been dressed up, and fill his shirt
with soot and hit it to make himself a “puff-box”. Don’t
look so superior my sweet. I know that little boy. Mrs Keshan
knew a very old friend of ours when she lived here in Carlton. In
fact she even knew Dad. Small world? Here in Sydney there has
been formed a P.O.W Relatives Association which prints each month
a magazine containing extracts from letters sent by prisoners
from various camps. It is very interesting and heartening to
read it. And there is always the hope that one day there might
be a photo (sent in by someone,) with a familiar face that would
send me running off to show Mum - Mac. I wish I could write
poetry or something sweet. Anything to express thoughts. ‘Cause I know
much as you do, what it is to be back and think and hope
and dream. You are away over there, so far away, with perhaps
very little of the comforts of life, but what is the fun of having
anything, bright lights, music, laughter, sunshine and sand
or what have you - when the person isn’t there to share it.
Loneliness is chronic! Good heavens Mac, this is definitely one of
those letters I dare not read by morning’s light or it will
end in the basket. Letters should be cheerful they say. Sorry
darling Mac but maybe to-night with all my photos
looking at me I’m feeling blue. Once again, until next week
I’ll say a Big Cheerio from all the family who send their best
wishes. Hoping to have you back again very soon. All my Love
Dorothy. S.A.G.