Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, 1942 - Part 11

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM M.W.
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768
STALAG XVIIID/489L
GERMANY

AIR MAIL

MISS D. WILLIAMS 
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA. 
 
15th September, 1942 
Dearest Mac, 
How are you my dear? Yes, its Tuesday night once again 
and I'm back to pester you in my usual fashion. Since 
writing you last week, that letter of yours hasn't turned up. 
To-morrow? Maybe it will come to-morrow, I guess I live in 
the to-morrows of this world. My to-days are so empty. Let's see 
what news is there for you? Jocelyn is still down on her holidays 
and that means that I have not been getting my full quota 
of "shuteye." But I have benefitted from having her here - she 
has driven away my fit of the blues, for a while at least. 
What are you doing with yourself now darling? Behaving 
I hope. Ah surely! You always do, don't you my sweet - well 
nearly always anyhow. We have settled down at last, in our 
new premises at work, and it really isn't such a bad place, 
until I start remembering our other building. And believe me 
there are so many things to remind me of it. Every stairway, 
every passage carries a voice, a laugh, a funny incident, and 
it's dug it's way down into my heart. However all this is not 
very interesting is it darl? Tell me - has Christmas been yet? 
If it hasn't - then it's a very very happy Christmas that I'm 
awishing for you Mac. Maybe at the very moment you're 
reading this letter, I'll be over here in Aussie-land wondering 
what you are doing, what you are thinking about, and 
loving you with every passing moment. Always remember 
that Mac - time just doesn't count. Days, weeks, months,

they can all pass, I won't change. Your photo here on my 
desk is giving a bit of a grin sweet. There are times when 
I could cheerfully poke out my tongue at your photo 
Malcolm William! Really and truly, I'm certain it 
changes its expression - no fooling. Sometimes it positively 
growls at me, or merely grins. Sometimes when I feel especially 
lonely it looks at me, sort of understandingly as if in sympathy. 
Uh gosh Mac, I hope you come home very soon. Just think 
I'll be 20 in a couple of months time. It sounds old, but I'm 
afraid I will never ever grow up - don't want to anyway. 
When you come back, if you'd rather I grew up, well that's 
different. Meanwhile I will just hang on. George and Norma 
were around here for tea last night. (Wouldn't be surprised 
to see them getting married very soon.) The babies went 
home on Sunday last, and we are missing them terribly. 
Daddie feels sure he'll have to adopt one more. I said my nose 
would be out of joint if he did. You should hear my cousin 
commanding me to come to bed. The light won't let her 
sleep she says, and if I don't run along she won't scratch 
my back for me. Mac, if there is anything I love, it's having 
my back scratched! So maybe I had better be off. Take 
good care of yourself Mac darling. Keep a count of all those 
matches I owe you and our list of dates, and come home soon 
my sweet. From all here at home and George and Norma come 
the kindest regards, and from the daughter of the house, pest 
that she is, all the Love she has. Sincerely Yours 
Dorothy

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE. 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 

PAR AVION 
Aust. - U.S.A - Portugal 

NX11067, Sgt. M. W. Kesham, 
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany, 
STALAG XVIII D (306) 489/L. 
GERMANY. 

15 SEP 42 

AUSTRALIAN 
RED CROSS 

Oflag III C 
1747

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

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
NX 11067, 
SGT. KESHAM M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768. 
STALAG XVIII DB/489L, 
GERMANY 

AIR MAIL 

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

24th September, 1942 

Geprüft 
Stalag XVIII A 
30 

My Dearest Mac, 
This time I can tell you I've received another letter 
from you - dated 3/5/42. It arrived last week, the day following 
my last letter to you. It was so good to read your writing Mac, 
and to know that you are well, although I hope you are not 
still losing weight m'lad. I don't like the sound of it. I shivered 
when I read how warm it was that day you wrote - just a mere 
2 deg. above. How you must long for the warm sunny land that 
is your Aussie, with its blue skies and warm sands. And you 
may be sure that Aussie will be glad to welcome her lads back 
again to set her heart beating again with happiness. Surely Mac 
it isn't always so cold over there is it? Darling please take 
care of yourself. The trouble is, you men forget so easily to 
keep yourselves warmly clad. Say listen my sweet, what's all 
this talk about when you come home, how hard it will be 
to get rid of you and send you home at night. Have you for- 
gotten how short my thumbs are - that is a sign of determination 
you know my Mac. Eh? You say you have short thumbs 
too? So what - I can see us having you an argument in no 
time. Oh well, I guess you might well smile, 'cause you are 
pretty sure I won't fight with you aren't you? I'll be so dash 
glad to have you back that a mere matter of time won't 
count. Just as well you can't see me now Mac. I'm sitting up 
in bed writing this, with my hair in two pigtails and tied 
with a ribbon. Can you imagine me? Look as if I should be

Geprüft 
Stalag XVIII A 
59 

attending school all over again. Fact of the matter is, I am having
the measles - of all things. Really I have almost finished with
them, I get up to-morrow, thank goodness. Not that I felt
too badly, but it is fearfully monotonous lying in bed
looking up at the ceiling all day long with no one to
come and say "Hello' except Mum and Dad, and Norma
too. I'm longing to get up Mac, because arrangements are under
way for the wedding:- George and Norma's wedding I mean. At
the last minute they've decided to be married, - on the 17th Oct.
I'm going to be Norma's bridesmaid and you can imagine the
rush it's going to be - material and sewing everywhere, but
we think we'll manage. I will have a piece of the cake for 
you darling. How I wish you could be here for the occasion.
It's good to know you like my letters Mac. Have you
received all the photos I have sent you? Even if only a
couple reach you we must be thankful for those. I've
been wondering when your photo will get here. You mentioned
in one of your letters that you would send one, don't
forget, please. I am hoping hard for another letter from
you this week. Gosh darling it's a thrill to see that familiar
white slip of paper waiting for me. Um do you know?
Think I'll finish off now and go back to dreaming of the day
you come home. That's one consolation with measles, my sweet.
Hope you don't mind an ex-measley person dreamingabout
you. Cheerio darling Mac. Look after yourself, and behave
of course. Kindest regards from Mum & Dad & all my Love 
Dorothy

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 

PAR AVION 
Aust.- U.S.A.-Portugal 

1747 
24 Sept '42 

SGT. M.W. KESHAM 
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany 
STALAG XV111 B NL 
GERMANY 
Oflag IIIC 
AUSTRALIAN 
RED CROSS

Miss D. Williams, 37 Byrnes St., Bexley, N.S.W., Australia 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
380

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAY 3768, 
M. STAMMLAGER XVIIIDB/489L, 
GERMANY. 

AIR MAIL 

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

4th October, 1942. 

Geprüft 
Stalag XVIII A 
5 

My Dearest Mac, 
I've been sewing on a frock for Mum and got so tired
of it that I suddenly tossed it aside and got out my
writing gear to have a yarn to my very own Mac. I
get so lonely darling and even a little slip of paper and
a pen helps. With sewing, one gets a mighty lot of thinking
done, you know. However, lets get down to some news.
This time I have some news my sweet. Yesterday afternoon
the door-bell rang and I rushed to the door to see who
it was. There was a young lad who looked about fifteen
with very dark brown eyes. That was all I had time to
think before he said "Hullo - I'm Norm". Mac, I was
surprised. After, I said to Mum, wouldn't it be funny
if I should one day meet Norman in town, and I wondered
if I would recognise him. But when he came, for a
moment I didn't know who he was. He isn't one bit like
you sweet, is he? Gosh he was shy though. Except
when I walked down to Carlton Station with him
and then we discussed the various orchestras and swing
records and so on. And he told me of the time he put
ice down your back while you were in bed and how
mad you were. Norm's so friendly I thought and wasn't
it nice of him to come out and see me. Let's see, that
Mrs Kesham, Gloria, and Norman that I know now.
Fay sent me a photo of herself. That's the person who's

like you - she is you all over again. And you want to
be prepared for a very lovely young sister when you
come back. I didn't see Fay two years ago, but she
would have grown, no doubt, and wouldn't be a "young
kid" any longer. I suppose you picture them all, and
wonder if they have altered at all. Gosh darling won't
it be wonderful when you can see them all, instead
of hearing from them and about them. How's the mail
coming through Mac? Regularly now I hope. In all,
I have received three postcards and seven long letters
and how I treasure them. Every week I write to you
Mac and here's hoping that they reach you, or if not
all, then most of them. I was telling Mum only yesterday
of how we would suddenly get huffy and not speak
to one another, or perhaps imagine the other mad about
something and so the row would be on. You were
crazy in those days and I loved you for your craziness
Remember the old street and how often you'd catch
up with me and walk as far as the station. They
are funny, sweet memories. Thanks for them Mac.
Here's the end of the page again and here's where I
once again have to say "so-long." Look after yourself
for me Mac darling and keep up the chin.
I hope you're very very well, and not feeling the
cold terribly. Anyway - here's a handful of our beaut
Aussie shunshine and a prayer with it. May you be
back soon my Mac - very soon. All my Love Dorothy.