Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, January-June 1943 - Part 4

Kriegsgefangenenlager Datum: 9th Feb. 1943.
Dear Dot, Its only that old hound of a thing once again, say who is the most popular these days
Rex or myself, funny thing but old Rex never did like me, he must have been jealous. I received one
of these cards from you to-day Dot dated 18th Jan 1942, you were just going up to play tennis when
you wrote it. I wonder what sort of a tennis player I'd make now, I never was much good before so
I hate to think what I'd be like now. I write you once a week now Dot a card one week and
letter the next. I hope you get them all ok. Wish everyone all the best for me once more
Dorothy and don't forget to look after yourself for me Cheerio Lots of love Mac.

Kriessselansenenpost mit Luftport Űber nord Amerika
Postkarte
3 
Geprűft 
Oflag III C 
Luftpost 
par avion 
2 PASSED BY CENSOR 1245
16.2.43 

Gebűhrenfreil

Absender: 
Vor- and Zuname: 
Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 1747 
Lager-Bezeichnung:
Kriegsgef.-Offizierlager III C 
Deutschland (Allemagne) 

Miss. D. Williams 
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes Street 
Strasse: Bexley 
Sydney
Land: Australia
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST  
NXII067   
SGT. KESHAM M.W.  
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 1747  
OFLAG 3G IIIC 
GERMANY

AIR MAIL

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MISS D. WILLIAMS
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA
13th February, 1943.

Dearest Mac, 
Hullo there darling, how are you? What have
you been doing lately? As you know that I haven't
had a letter for months - I am beginning to feel
neglected or something. Now don't give me that story
about being far too busy sweet. No - I know you
have been writing Mac - maybe I will get a bunch
of letters soon. I never give up hope and each day
is one day nearer to a letter from you. Have you
been well Mac - putting on any weight? I'm pretty
worried over your increasing loss of weight - I don't
like the sound of it. I hope there will be some good
news from you soon darling. The weather has been
wonderful this afternoon - pretty hot, but then I
love the hot sun. Been up at the tennis court all
afternoon getting some practise before the next comp.
starts. Wouldn't you think we would be too
ashamed to keep on trying at that game. We always
just about reach the semi - finals and then peter out.
However this time - but we said that before. One of
the girls from our physi club came down this afternoon
to tell me that seven of us are going to give a display
for the boys - in town. It's all at practically a
minute's notice and we haven't practised since our
concert a couple of months past. We are game though
and we'll never let it be said. Tuesday night

next I'm going out to your Gloria's for dinner.
Your mother will be there too- can you imagine
the goings on darl? Don't get any mistaken ideas
though - Gloria's husband is as noisy as we are.
Not self-defence my pet. No wisecracks from
you. Mac I'm so sorry about the photos. I
haven't forgotten you but some weren't any good and
the others I am having enlarged. Be patient
just a while longer sweet, will you? Tell me
did you ever receive that parcel from David Jones.
I often wonder what happened to it Mac. I can
remember how carefully I chose the books and the
games, and I am glad I didn't know then how long
you would be in receiving them. More than likely
you will get them when you are about to come home.
And I'm thinking that won't be so very long now.
Please God, it will be soon. As the days, weeks,
months go on I find myself missing you so much as
ever, and there is an emptiness in my life because
you are not here to share it with me. When you
first went away I wondered at it and whether the
years would dim the ache, but I have had my
answer, and I still miss you terribly. Take care
of yourself for me please Mac, and come home
soon. Love from all the family - they're all very
well Mac. Big Cheerio darling. All my Love,
Dorothy

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

MELBOURNE VIC AUSTRALIA
[?]
26FEB
1943

Passed by Censor V91
19

Sgt. M.W. Kesham 
Australian Prisoner of War No.1747 in Germany 
OFLAG 111C
GERMANY 

13th Feb 43

AUSTRALIAN
A
RED CROSS

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Miss. D. Williams, 37 Byrnes St., Bexley, N.S.W. Australia 
3 Opened by Censor 
Passed by Censor 
V 91 

Dearest Dot, 16th Feb 1943 
Two more July letters from you Dot, thanks for the snaps they were grand. I'll be 
looking forward to the one a week you mentioned. I'm sorry I made you worried with 
my letters, you seemed a bit wild also, by the time you get this you will probably be real
mad at me as there are more of those same old letters on the way. I often wondered what
you thought to yourself when you read them. I did. I wonder why he writes such trash 
or something like that. I suppose. I'm afraid these letters must be terrible boring 
Dot - there's only one thing I want write, and I don't know how to start; even if I did 
you don't like it so what can I do. Well seeing as you don't like it I'll try to avoid being 
mushy in future, however I can't promise. Don't worry your lovely little head sweet. 
why should I be bitter, the only difference between me now and when you last saw 
me is, well you know what I said before. Distance makes the heart grow fonder 
if possible. Good on Norma and George, wish them all the best for me Dot as they intend 
to write for years, there's a chance I may be home for the happy day, If not he'll just 
have to give Norma that kiss he took off my photo for me ok. I wonder if I'll be as lucky 
as George, or do you reckon no one could ever say yes to me, unless they were blind, deaf,
and dumb that is. Say you needn't rub it in and tell me I need dancing lessons and 
the only reason I didn't ask you to save me a waltz was because the next dance 
we go to I want all the dances, do you mind sweet, put steel toe caps in your shoes 
and you'll be ok. Well now that I can't tell you how much I love you in my own funny 
old way I stuck darl. There is no news here, we have a concert once a month if 
we are lucky, at present sports are out of the question owing to the rain, snow 
and mud, so there is not a thing I can write about. Well sweet wish everyone 
all the best for me, and don't worry it wont be long now, so just hope hard 
and take care of yourself for me. Cheerio darling All my love, Yours Mac.

Mit Luftpost Ũber Nord Amerika 
Received July 16th '43

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Geprűft

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Luftpost 
par avion 26.2.43-11 
OPENED BY CENSOR 
2 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
1246 
An Miss D Williams 
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes Street 
Strasse: Bexley 
Kries: N.S.W
Land: Australia
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
Gebűhrenfreil 

Absender: 
Vor- and Zuname: 
Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 1747 
Lager-Bezeichnung: OFLAG IIII C 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

2
OPENED BY CENSOR 

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST  
NXII067   
SGT. KESHAM M.W.  
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 1747  
OFLAG 3C
GERMANY

AIR MAIL
Oflag IIIC
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Geprűft
 

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

21st February, 1943 
Dearest Mac, 
Hullo there, how are you pal? What are you
doing right now I mean? Are you sitting on your
bed reading this or are you outside - or where? I
like to think of you when you receive my letters.
I'd like to know what you think and how you
look- like to peep over your shoulder and watch
your expressions and hear what you say. Not that
that is unusual sweet - I'm always wondering what
you're doing. At work sometimes I pause and think to
myself "Somewhere in Germany Mac is - would he be
asleep now - or working - on what? There has been no
mail from you for about three months and I don't
feel so good about it either. Every day or so your
Mum will ring me and ask me the usual question.
We are not worrying actually darling but each day
is disappointing as no letter comes. However, if you
are getting some over there I won't mind so much.
Not quite so much. Say - do you like my young brood?
In the photo I mean. The two little girls were the
quaintest little things. Mac - you should have seen
them sliding down the hills and then coming up to
me to get me to pick the grass seeds from out of

their pants. The young lad behind me is Jocelyn's
young brother - a bonza kid. I think I told you
about him in a previous letter didn't I? Speaking
of my cousin, she was down here last week-end
with a boy-friend of hers. No, not the one I told
you about a long way back - this one is much
nicer! At least I thought he was, he was rather shy
and quiet but really good fun. He didn't know
Sydney at all, So Jocelyn and I took him to a
show in town on the Saturday night and swimming
on Sunday morning. I am very proud of this Aussie
land of ours Mac & love showing it to people. May
I show it to you when you come back? I'd like to,
because, just between you and me (and the millions
of censors, of course) I am very proud of you too and
it would be very fitting. Think of it Mac - meeting
you after work, for dinner and a show; just having
you beside me where I can put my hand out and
know you are there, turn my head and see you. Some
day all dreams will come ba true Mac dear and
we'll laugh at these months and years, but there will
be a prayer of thankfulness in our hearts even as we
laugh, for we'll never forget how lonely it can be.
Chin up my darling and smile - for me?  By. Cheerio
Kindest Regards from all here at home & all my Love
Dorothy