Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, January-June 1943 - Part 1

KRlEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 1747, 
OFLAG 3C. GERMANY 

AIR MAIL 
MISS D. WILLIAMS, 
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA 
1st January 1943

My Dearest Mac,
How are you this brand new year? You have
lots of dates with me this year and I reckon you'll make
it too. Well there is a whole stack of news for you, so
I'd better get on with it. My Christmas holidays are over
and I'm back at work once again. I told you I was
going down to stay with Jocelyn in my last letter.
We walked and talked and danced and did all the
gorgeous things there is to do down there; and on the
last day went over to the Valley. Mac that Valley
was a picture indeed - we got horses and rode up
to the farm where we lunched and swam and swam
and swam in my favorite swimming hole. We
delayed leaving so long that in the end, the car
was held up waiting to take me to the station to
catch the train. You just should have seen me sweet;
I had such a beam on my face (sunburn) and
my hair was flying and I had to make the
journey home in the train clad in my riding
gear. Mum said she was ashamed of me when
I reached home. But I didn't care - it was worth it.
At present, I might add, my nose is in the advanced
stages of peeling. The family is getting around like
a dog with two tails. Daddie's managed to get
a weeks holiday to coincide with mine and we have
decided - Mum Dad & myself - to go down to the

Valley I wish so very much that you were coming
with us Mac. Got a feeling that wish will be
haunting me all the time too. Anyway Ill write
you a beaut. letter from there darling and tell you
all about it. That’s the best I can do for you Mac.
Mrs. Keshan was in to see me yesterday, bless her.
She's the brightest soul - I love to see her. Wait 'til
I tell you though. Young Margaret was saying her
prayers the other night and after saying all her
"God Bless"es she said to your Mother "Mamma
there is someone else - Uncle Macie's girl - what was
her name - Dorothy." You, imagine her remembering 
me Mac! She is the dearest little old lady - girl 
I've ever met. you should hear some of the sayings 
she gets on to - in one respect you're lucky sweet. Think 
of all the nice things that are being stored up for you. 
I'll bet you'll notice the difference in your family 
when you get back. "When you get back" - we use 
that phrase a lot don't we? That's all I think 
about these days. [[Man]] - in - the photo, how much 
longer will it be? I'm patient - you know I'll 
wait, but it gets so lonely at times. But don't mind 
me Mac dear. Maybe just because the day is 
almost over and its getting dark - you know how 
moody I get at night. Remember you used to tell me 
to always write at nightime, didn't you? That's all 
for now my Mac. Look after yourself sweet. 
All My Love, Dorothy -

Dear Dot,                            4th Jan 1943 
So I start another year darling with my first letter of the year to 
you. I hope it dont bore you to much. Im just wondering if we will be to- 
gether for the next year, I hope so Dot its not much fun stuck away in 
this place where you cant even get a decent supply of mail. I havent had 
a letter from you for a month now. I dont miss the better things in life 
because its not much use having those things if you cant share them with 
the person who counts. It funny but the one thing really want and 
look forward to seems to always be the last to arrive, meaning your letters. 
When ever Im writing to you sweet I get a funny feeling in my throat 
I cant explain it, but when I get that feeling I miss you most of all then 
and it makes these letters very hard to write, I could write page after page 
but I dont think you would like it, I remember you being very mad at me 
[[previously]] and on one occasion I only had a few crosses on the bottom 
you would be surprised at some of the little things I remember darling 
things that happened in the lift and on the stairs; things you said gosh I 
used to get wild at times no matter what i tried to do to please you it didnt 
seem to make any difference, these days are a long way back now Dot 
those days when I could see you talk to you but couldnt make you relise 
I was serious, now its just the opposite. Give my kindest regards to 
everyone back there, and don't forget the only news that interests me is about 
yourself so even if you have no other news it doesn't matter, because the 
main pieces are about yourself, I read all these over and over Well 
darling once again I must finish, dont forget to take care of yourself for 
me and remember our day is getting close Cheerio All my love Mac

SYDNEY
Kriegsgefangenenpost
An Miss D. Williams

Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes St
Strabe: Bexley
Kreis: Sydney 
Land: Australia

Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennumer: 1747
Lager-Bezeichnung: Kriegsgef-Offizierlager III C 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

KRlEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 1747, 
OFLAG 3C. GERMANY 

AIR MAIL 
MISS D. WILLIAMS, 
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA 

7th January, 1943
Dearest Mac,
Well hello there, my man-in-the-picture, how 
are you going and what have you been doing with yourself.
You've got me in a dither again - waiting for a letter
which I think is on the way to me. Tell you why-
Your Mother received a postcard this week, dated
October 4th so that means mail is in and maybe
one for me too. I was at your place for dinner last
night Mac. There's only one thing wrong with going
there and that is I have to leave about 9.15
so that Norm won't be too late in getting back. He
brings me home every time Mac - insists on it.
Not that I mind - he's great company and we have
lots to talk about. I like it best when he gets
on to tales about you - what you did when you
were so high. So - watch out my sweet, I have
you tagged now. Isn't it a shame that you can't
get anything to tease me about? While I remember,
this is Margaret's "story of the week", I had to
laugh when she came out with it. We were sitting
on the lounge, she and I, and I asked her "Have
you got a boyfriend, Margaret?" very confidentially.
She studied me for a minute & then equally serious,
she said "Yes - have you got Uncle Macie?". "He's
in Germany isn't he?" And not yet three years

old! She's awfully cute. Never calls you Mac - you're
Mark - Uncle Markie. Norm says you'll either pat 
him on the back or kick him in the pants when you
come back, for bringing me home. I said if you
kick him I'll kick you. So I wouldn't if I were 
you - 'cause I can kick mighty hard darling. Well 
there's only one more day and then I'll be going 
away for my holidays. There's one reason to make 
me a bit scared to go away - I might miss one of your 
letters. Norma said she would come round each 
day and get any mail & forward yours on to me.
There should be a photo with this letter sweet -
one of Norma and I taken as the wedding. Notice 
I make no comments pal. Just as you say. While I'm 
away next week I'll get some more snaps for you 
Mac - nice ones that you'll like. So hang on darl 
and watch out for them. I'll have a laze in the 
hot sun, and a swim for you too. Reading this 
Mac, don't you ever wonder how marvellous I am 
at covering two sides of the paper with practically
nothing? It comes naturally now. You should see
my shoes lined up to be cleaned & my shorts &
dresses to be ironed and packed. Must away now
Mac dear and get my chores done. Kindest regards
from Mum & Dad, George & Norma . And from me to
you dearest - all my love. Great big "Cheerio".
Dorothy

SERVICE DES PR GUERRE. 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
PAR AVION
Aust.-U.S.A.-Portugal

Sgt. M.W. KESHAM
Australian Prisoner of War No. 1747 in Germany 
OFLAG III C.
GERMANY.

7th JAN 43 

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

KRlEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 1747, 
OFLAG 3C. GERMANY 

AIR MAIL 
MISS D. WILLIAMS, 
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA 
Sunday 17th January 1943

My Dearest Mac,
This week I am writing you from my favorite spot. 
No need to tell you where I am- you should guess 
by that darling. And never has it looked so beautiful.
We have been here a week already and that means there 
is only one more week to go, worse luck. The weather has 
been perfect with hot sunny days and cool nights. What 
is more, there's a moon Mac- just to make me feel a
bit more lonely, of course. So as soon as it comes dark, 
which is never before nine, I crawl into bed on the
verandah and watch the river & the trees and have 
a good old think. Jocelyn's young brother Geoffrey, is
staying over with us and he's great company. Pop would 
never let me go swimming alone as it's pretty deep & 
he's afraid I might get cramp so really I'd be lost without 
Geoff. He's like a fish in the water and it's a terrific job 
getting him to come home. This morning I rode the colt 
up to the farm and spent the day up there. Mum & 
Pop drove the car up for me and we came home around 
dusk. Had to leave the colt up there as they needed 
him this week. Pretty hard to have a horse around 
here lately & I'll miss the colt Gee Mac we could have 
a great time if you were down here with us. Things
would be perfect then. And I reckon you wouldn't mind 
getting up at daylight to go riding either because the place 
would get you too. Mac I've gone and collected myself 
another scar. I don't think I've ever gone home from here

without a fresh one. This time one of the horses lashed 
out and kicked at my horse, missing him and connecting
with my leg instead. For a while I couldn't feel 
a thing - my leg had gone numb. Only for my riding 
boot I think my leg would have been broken, so
I was lucky. He opened up the shin for about one inch 
in a pretty deep cut, but it's getting along fine now and
is healing up cleanly. It was a bad tempered little 
horse, believe me, I felt like lashing out and kicking 
it back. However - that's enough talk for a while. You 
tell me how you're getting along. Are you well Mac, sweet? 
Don't let anything happen to you my dear. That's one 
thing I don't believe I could "take". So just you take 
good care of yourself my lad. You know - on account of 
because. Have you had any more photos taken Mac? 
Hurry them along darl- they are worth such a lot. 
Already I have taken two films, so when I get back and 
have them developed, you'll be seeing them. Hold tight 
until then. When you write Mac, tell me what photos you 
have received will you? I hope you have them all ere 
this. The lamp is flickering a bit Mac so I'd better 
close the door and get ready for bed. I'm fairly tired 
after to-day. Tomorrow I must write to your mother
and Norma & George. They'll be wanting to know how we 
are going. Maybe there will be a letter from you soon 
Mac- here's hoping. That's all for now darling. With 
the usual message from Mum & Dad and of course 
me too. Until next week then. All my love - Dorothy.