Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, January-June 1943 - Part 15
Dearest Dot, 9th June 1943
Hullo there young lady I expect you are still feeling annoyed with me
for teasing you in my last letter about falling asleep etc, am I right Dot it
was not a very nice one was it, never mind darling I'll see if I can't improve
a little this time however I cant promise anything as good as yours Dot. How
are you darling still the same as when we were together except maybe a little
taller and definitely more charming than ever I often wonder what you must
think when you receive some of my letters some of them must seem strange to
you I suppose I say things in such a round about way at times, that I sometimes
wonder if you will undestand me, still they all lead to the one thing Dot and
you know that don't you. Do you reckon I'd make a good farmer Dot, Im a bit
doubtful myself, but if your heart is set on being a farmers wife well I guess
Ill just have to be a farmer, still I wouldn't mind what I was as long as I had you
Dot, Well darling by the time you get this I will be 24 and you will know that I
wont be with you for your Birthday all our wishing did not do any good this time
Dot but dont be too disappointed 1944 is our year and we can celebrate your birth
day as well as many other things then, I know we can make up for all this sweet
and believe me we will, so until that day we just have to keep on wishing. Wish every
one all the best for me once more and dont forget to look after yourself for me. Everything
is much the same here, though the weather has been terrible lately, and as for myself
Im A1, mail in general has been very slow though I shouldnt complain your letters
are fairly regular and I think I have them all up to 19th Mar so you see Im doing ok
Im hoping to hear that your mail has improved at last, in some of your next
letters. Once more and its the end so for the time being Cheerio darling All my Love Mac
Kriegsgefangenenpost
Über Nord Amerika
Luftpost
par avion
17.6.43.11
OPENED BY CENSOR
2
PASSED
BY
CENSOR
1424
An Miss D Williams
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes Street.
Straße: Bexley.
Kreis: N. S. W.
Land: AUSTRALIA.
Gebührenfreil Landesteil (Provinz usw.)
OPENED BY CENSOR
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Keshan
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747)
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383
Deutschland (Allemagne)
AIR MAIL
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX11067,
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768, STALAG 383,
GERMANY.
MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA.
Stalag 383
23
Geprüft
12th June, 1943.
Dearest you,
Well here I am - home from work, Saturday night
and no place to go. Mum forgot to book seats for the
pictures & so we h[a]d to stay home. Of course, the fire is
pretty comforting o[n] such a cold evening and the program
on the wireless sounds promising. So if you can, just
picture me curled up here in front of the fire, with
writing pad on my knees and scribbling away furiously.
As I was telling your photo a few minutes ago, I'm
feeling rather blue because I've had no letter from
you in weeks. You can't imagine how thrilled I am
going to be when one turns up! How's mail your end,
darling ? Arriving regularly and often I hope. And
you, my sweet, how are you? My number one worry
as well as my number one pal, aren't you? Gosh
Mac, the time is getting on; in a few more months
it will be three years since I waved you from the
front verandah. Well, at least we have been able to
take it Mac, although I'm glad I didn't know then
how long it would be before I would see you again.
Wonder have we changed much since then? It's funny,
all the questions that spring up. However, questions
can, keep for the time being. Summer or winter - I wonder
which it will be, when you get home, darling. Perhaps
I had better cease rambling and let you have some news.
Still think my job super. As I learn the work it
becomes much easier and I like the people I am with
which is very important. During the course of conversation
one day I told Margaret - we're great pals, she & I - about
you and showed your photos and explained where you
were and so on. She took the two snaps (which you
sent me since your capture) in to show the boys and
they were very interested. Soon they began to question
me about your letters, where you were taken prisoner,
etc . Since then they informed me that they would watch
for the expression on my face each morning so as to
find out if I had heard from you. This Margaret I
mentioned, is engaged to an American air man whom
she hasn't seen for ten months . I jokingly tell her
that the first three years are the hardest. I'm always
at her to write to her Max (that is his name) often
She thinks I'm a bit of a marvel because I write
every week to you Heavens, its strange that she
doesn't want to write every day to her fiance. Even
if she only wrote 'dear Max, the weather is fine - I still
love you' it would be better than nothing. Dear
you - I still love you - in case you've forgotten.
So don't "get scared" or worry my darling, every moment
that ticks by reminds me that very soon now, we'll
be back to-gether, sharing all those laughs, dates
and good times we have been promising ourselves for
so long. Chin up Mac. - keep smiling . All my love
Dorothy.
SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
PAR AVION
Aust.- U.S.A. - Portugal
4.30PM
30 JUN
1943
VIC-AUST
3 PASSED BY CENSOR 384
Y 198
Sgt. M. W. Kesham,
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany,
STALAG 383 (FRUEHER OFLAG III.C. )
GERMANY.
12th June 43
AUSTRALIAN
RED CROSS
Miss D. Williams, 37 Byrnes Street, Bexley, NSW
AUSTRALIA.
3 Opened by Censor
Dearest Dot, 14th June 1943.
I'm stuck Dot there is so much I want to say to you and I don't know where to start, maybe
its just as well you would probably think I was crazy, though it is a curse having to keep these
things to yourself darling, when we do get together once again Dot you wont be able to get any sense
out of me for weeks, so be prepared darling. I had another letter from you last week 25th Mar still
so good to as ever, you know Dot I never realised how good it could be to get a letter, until the last 2
years, still seeing as it's your letters that are so good to get maybe that accounts for it. I see by
your letter you are starting to worry that little head of yours again Dot, I know its no use telling
you not to worry, but whatever else I may do darling I won't change, and as for growing away from
you, do I sound as though I have, or will Dot, and I think the last thing to happen to us would be
for us to be complete strangers with each other no matter how long we were kept appart, still
Dot I suppose letters play a large part there, I was just thinking Dot, two people who intended to
get married at the first opportunity could hardly feel like that could they, I cant do more than ask
you and you already know how I feel darling, whatever you say Dot, of course you could keep it a
secret now and if you should change your mind later, well lets not think of that, but its entirely
up to you Dot, are you getting confused a little Dot, you will have to get used to these letters of mine
Dot or maybe [you'd rather] me just say, Will you marry me darling it's the same thing that's what I want you know.
Anyhow Dot how are you, still taking care of yourself for me dont forget will you, and wish every
one all the best for me, you should be an expert cook by this by the way. I'm still in the best of health
myself though I havent been doing much lately, a game of football now and then, and a
bit of reading and lots of thinking, and every week is just about the same with very little
sunshine and plenty of rain. Well darling everything must come to an end, I'll write
again soon as possible, but if my mail should drop off at any time dont worry it wont
be my fault so dont go thinking I might have changed, Cheerio for now All my Love Mac.
Kriegsgefangenenpost
Über Nord Amerika
Luftpost
par avion
20.6.43.11
OPENED BY CENSOR
2
PASSED
BY
CENSOR
1424
383 Geprüft
An Miss D Williams
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes Street
Straße: Bexley
Kreis: N. S. W.
Land: AUSTRALIA.
Gebührenfreil Landesteil (Provinz usw.)
OPENED BY CENSOR
Absender:
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Keshan
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747)
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383
Deutschland (Allemagne)
AIR MAIL
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX11067,
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768,
STALAG 383,
GERMANY
MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA.
Stalag 383
23
Geprüft
18th June, 1943
Hullo Mac darling,
How are you? Do you like my photo? It's one
of the physical culture ones I mentioned previously.
Look closely at my leg and you'll see the little
bandage where the horse kicked me last holiday
Of course there is only the scar left now - thank
goodness. By the way, did you receive the other photo
I sent a few letters back with the close-up?
The 'R' on my uniform stands for Rockdale, in case
you were wondering. Mac, the girl at work, (her
name is Margaret, so now you'll know whom I
mean in future ) received a letter from her fiance
to-night and altho' I didn't really expect one, I
did hurry home , you know - just in case. But it
was no go. They still have to come. I went out
to see your Mother on Wednesday night Mac. May
and I went to Ashfield theatre to see a good picture
& then I came back and stayed the night. Your
Father got hold of McCosker's home address and so I
intend writing to his Mother to find out his where-
abouts, We know he is alive and well, but that's all.
Well we had a great night at Betty's 21st birthday
party darling. It's months since I've been to a
dance, and I donned evening frock and trimmings
for the occasion. Betty love Jazz watzses - so - we
had load of Jazz watzses. Dear old Bett was so
excited, she didn't know where to turn. I'm hoping
she'll be over one night so we can have a good
'discussion' of the events leading up to the dance
as well as the dance itself. Don't laugh sweet,
we won't pick anyone to bits. Not much anyhow.
Mac darling, when am I going to see you? Uh
it's easy enough to say to people "of course I'm
waiting for Mac to come home." Talking is easy.
Especially when letters are few and far between,
time does drag so. Even so, I guess we are lucky
tho' Mac. The other day I received a letter from
Charlie - you remember the boy you saw me with
that time you were in a taxi? He asked if
I had heard from you lately & then said "You
know Dot, I do envy you two the joy, and for
all you've got to look forward to ". I thought to
myself as I read that. He's right, we are to be
envied darling for what we have to look forward
to . And I'll always remember that. It will be
worth all the waiting. That's all for this week
Mac. - look after yourself sweet. All the family send
their love & are looking forward to the day when
you'll be back. Big Cheerio & All My Love. Dorothy.
This transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.