Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, July-December 1943 - Part 1

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Part of Quest:
Love Letters - Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams
Subject:
  • Love Letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.17
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

WEKESCETANEENENPOSI 373c GIR MAIL NX11067 PEx NSN SCT.KESHAM, MN. mrg AUSTRALIAN TRISONER OF WAR 2762 STALAE 383. Sunday 46 Jly 4 PECEWVED CCRMANY 8 M 1343 AUSTRALLAN Deasest hav, RE& Doness This week has brought are two inere letters from you- the laters dated Iad March. Oas makes four werthen a featnight - that will be the lar for this bacch I suppose. Lass aught I came heae from weaks itiald ons and sleepy, and these was a letter Juse to see it lying there made, mme ful so geod. So even if I should call you a round of a thing its her imeaning ito say the stapped laving you Eagl day sun same way baings thoughto Ofryan. To day Maagares and I wens to see a gave of Guid- ison peara. Gue me oun Tealball any day there is too ndeh (stopping and staating in Gaid ison. Of cauase I had to bannach forr Anny- and Anan wan 70 too. We two had tea in town & you should have seen us walking along asm in asur feeling leach and blue, because each of us had a hac (hes finne is named hax) many imills away. Someties I ifeel like ging semewhere special, hi yuise inat heae, so Lone Dgo. Daveing, den's think I don's have any fun as all I believe me, I do- as times. Lass hednesday nigh for inataace we had a grand time skating as the Glanauum. Id was the fease time entages
since I had been and psh I enjoyed is. An eveay letter you waite I natce there is some mention, of young hean, and youa wasay concerning new aing believe yue acually palous. Hes in Mellimuase now hus anyway this still "Mais brather". As for that bs alous a bay un Aussii being weath two in Atalag 883 - don's be caagypal. Filany old you, there's quite a les of thoughts senver accund insside your head isns there I I wauldde insway though prac - that little finishing sentence in your last letter about masaying me - is tucked away an a coanea of any heaas, tto Waam me when Lor blue and to recund me that oven the scean these's an Aussie bay who means so much teme. The lads at weak all know abong you + ash me "How is that Aussie P.O.M. Of eeuss. Theyne grand leays and Im preud to be suaaking wiith them when I watch them Trealise hawv is duss be with you oven there - on mail days for instance. You tae dailing. Nothing - piss Mac dailing tike to sayes over and ou I and Im nos esagy Say lisen den & dare step them as heare from telling me all abous your Iack for because I lave to lesten to them they think ysual juss wonderful mac. Im with them there too lugee deasest you - heres where I close for the weeks Behave and leak apter yourself. Wich all ay have, Geaethy
SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE SUERRE. KRIEGSSEFANGENENPOST 1230 45 Sgt. M.W. Keshan astrallan Frisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany RAtha 383 Cormoner Of208 121 O) AUSIPALIAN CCAMANY I we pay RED CROSS
Mss D. Williams, 37 byrnes St.Bertey Austpa 21a 1057 49 BdO 3 Opened by Censor PASSED ENSOR
Coviterat Brenretanreven C Contron 2L Strado: Keets: Se Land. reedeed Bortes an TOUBOMEMN PUCSSISG mngnt omm
KEIEESEECANOENENPOS 37 Oy Stract, NX11067. HIR MAIL SFXLEY NSN SCT. RebHAm,MW. XVXII RUOTRRNR. AerLanAN PRISCNCR Of MO 3768. FTALNC 38A S8/4 16 CERMANY. 1th July, 17143 My Deaseas trac 1345 Have you eer alld you what a nice peason you are I haybe Ihave ed you befsre, but Yyou can and those previaus Ptellings off the Irecends - theyre wery unadequate dasling. Had you been able ato epen the deen and take a peek unside of my hears, then you could have got some idea of haw mmuch I loved you for sending me these flowers. They asswed so Weknesday afternaso las and at gish mac it was such a tesaific surpaise! Igai couldn's believeg ee! There were vialets keep + blue, white hyaunhs, daphae, swcepess and chaysanthamums. Thank you har for the necess though possible and fou the yey that thought bnough are some of my flewens are still alwe a here en my dish befare hae. The sweetness of them since neven die. The pass week also bouugh me another letter from you - making fine letters un a festaig. Ye! Men left it undaten Nline the Grestonadh says 2ath Mapeh. I feer very guilty when Finead that I get bath of tysua two dnthly letters as well as two cand sudes i be better, now and then; to send a letter houe as well as the cards. Letters are so much better than
caads, I always think. Please don's tthinks I dais wans to receive your letters - neven that, sween I think youll bnsenstand what I mean haw listen selly, and get this unto your head! Supposing & am in a new you. Thas deeso's mean I as going to change. Ile sai be able to ges you mad when I feel like it. So it's my tran to say step wsraying. Mrnths, even years, may new by, but as fau as I can see, and I do try and flgure myself our sometimes - there's little difference o the Hoaethy you left behind neasly three yeaas ago, and the heasthy of these letters. All pest. ho more Aenaying? Fine! Hadas louely ighs shating lant Thunsoy ho spills either Glage and neana came with plangace and I. Fuday, you know, ym getting back all my old enthusiarn for shating I geidg nexl week too well deasess you - all I can think of is your leax of flowers - you way over there + Ithinking of such a lovely thing as that Oh dasling hews is gead - to night Io so much happier; you have a knack of doing ithat its we malcelm Resham. Hunay have daaling, I can's decide whether All he at the whanf on as the train to meet you, but you can depend upon, it that Lee be ascund somewhere. And then! Those three years will seem like three days. Kindest regards shll the family and from me - all my have Baath
SERUICE DES PRISONNIERS DE CUERRE. KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 18 23 S 1343 38t. Hitl. Keshan, Australlan Brisoner of War No 3768 in Gormany, AUSTMMIN STALAG 383 (Trucher Oflag 111 c). SAMRAM. 16 RED CROSS
Tes D. Ma, V, STTS TtSt, PeMSS, DSSN. HISANNN. 10su 49 pouodo e 3 ane Cape


KRIEGSGEFANGENEN POST
NX11067,
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768,
STALAG 383., 
GERMANY

AIR MAIL

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

Sunday - 4th July '43

RECEIVED
8 Jul 1943 
AUSTRALIAN 
RED CROSS

Dearest Mac,
This week has brought me two more letters
from you- the latest dated 23rd March. That makes
four within a fortnight - that will be the lot for
this batch I suppose. Last night I came home from
work tired out and sleepy, and there was a letter.
Just to see it lying there made me feel so good.
So even if I should call you a hound of a thing its
not meaning to say I've stopped loving you. Each
day, in some way, brings me thoughts of you. To-day
Margaret and I went to see a gave of Grid-iron
played. Give me our Football any day - there is too
much stopping and starting in Grid-iron. Of
course I had to barrack for Army - and Army
won 7-0 too. We two had tea in town & you should
have seen us walking along arm in arm feeling lonely
and blue, because each of us had a Mac (her fiance
is named Mac) many miles away. Sometimes I feel
like going somewhere special; but you're not here, so
home I go. Darling, don't think I don't have any fun
at all - believe me, I do - at times. Last Wednesday
night for instance we had a grand time skating
as the Glaciarium. It was the finest time in ages

 

since I had been and gosh I enjoyed it. In every
letter you write I notice there is some mention
of young Norm, and your worry concerning him.
Darling I believe you're actually jealous. He's in
Melbourne now but anyway he's still "Mac's
brother". As for that bit about a boy in "Aussie"
being worth two in Stalag 383 - don't be crazy, pal.
Funny old you, there's quite a lot of thoughts running
around inside your head isn't there? I wouldn't
worry though Mac - that little finishing sentence in
your last letter about marrying me - it's tucked away
in a corner of my heart, to warm me when I'm blue
and to remind me that over the ocean there's an
Aussie boy who means so much to me. The lads at
work all know about you and ask me "How is that Aussie
P.O.W. of yours". They're grand boys and I'm proud to
be working with them. When I watch them I realise
how it must be with you over there - on mail days
for instance. Gosh Mac darling! Nothing - just
Mac darling. I like to say it over and over - and
I'm not crazy. Say listen don't dare stop them at
home from telling me all about you. I ask for it 
because I love to listen to them. They think you're
just wonderful Mac. I'm with them there too.
Well dearest you - here's where I close for the week.
Behave and look after yourself. With all my love,
Dorothy

 

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST

Sgt. M.W. Kesham
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany
STALAG 383 (Frueher Oflag 111 C)
GERMANY
4th July 

AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS 

PASSED 
BY
CENSOR
161 

Stalag 383 
15 
Geprut

 

Miss D. Williams, 37 Byrnes St. Bexley, N.S.W.
Australia 

3 Opened by Censor 

 

5th July 1943 
My Dearest Dot, 
Well darling did you get my card, they are not much good are they but I guess its better
than none at all, gosh it seems a long time since I heard from you Dot your last was dated 25th
March and thats almost a month ago I got that. I certainly miss those good old letters of yours darl.
Only month and I feel real miserable, I guess I miss you all the more when I dont get your
mail, and I do that enough at the best of times darling. Still lets hope its not long before I am
holding you once more and saying to you what I find so difficult to say on paper and in
the mean time I will just continue to hang on to those few memories that count so much
to us they are our memories darling and as you said they prove our love. I had a letter from 
young Norm in which he said I had a very nice girlfriend, and that he likes my taste, of
course he was wasting his time, I could have to him I had a very nice girlfriend long ago
but I wouldn’t have stopped at very nice, however I’m saving it up and I’ll tell you what I
think when we have our day ok, I could tell you in these letters darling but it just wouldn’t
sound as I feel so you will just have to be content with knowing I want you to marry me
darling but you already know that don’t you, what do you say Dot, remember telling me once
I always got my own way, well darling no ones ever wished to get there own way more than
I do now. I wont worry you any more this time darling so I change the subject; how are
you, a picture of health I hope, talking of pictures don’t forget my snafu every now and then
will you and wish everybody all the best wont you, when your Father finds out I’m trying
to take his baby daughter away from him he will probably be after me with a shot gun
and I cant say that I blame him. Don’t worry about me, Im in the best of health still, and as
soon as I get some mail Ill be my old self once more, I still have not changed, you may think
I have by my letters but I really haven’t. I’ve felt like this for a long time its just that I haven’t
said so. Well darling once again its Cheerio for now. As always all my love Mac 

 

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
11.7.43-11 
NORD AMERIKA 
OPENED BY CENSOR 
Gebuhrenfreil 

Miss D Williams 
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes Street 
StraBe: Bexby 
Kreis: N.S.W. 
Land: AUSTRALIA 
Landesteil (Provins usw.)

Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenenummer: 3768 (1747)[[?]]
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

 

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. 
11th July, 1943 

My Dearest Mac, 
Have you ever realised just what a nice person 
you are? Maybe I have told you before, but 
you can rule those precious "tellings" off the 
records - they're very inadequate darling. Had you 
been able to open the door and take a peek 
inside o' my heart, then you could have got some 
idea of how much I loved you for sending me 
those flowers. They arrived on Wednesday afternoon 
last and oh gosh Mac it was such a terrific 
surprise! I just couldn't believe my eyes! There 
were violets, deep & blue, white hyacinths, daphne, 
sweepeas and chrysanthamums. Thank you Mac 
for the nicest thought possible and for the joy 
that thought brought me. Some of my flowers 
are still alive & here on my desk before me. The 
sweetness of them will never die. The past week 
also brought me another letter from you - making 
five letters in a fortnight. Gee! You left it undated 
but the postmark says 20th March. I feel very 
guilty when I read that I get both of your two 
monthly letters as well as two cards. Wouldn't it 
be better, now and then, to send a letter home as 
well as the cards. Letters are so much better than 

 

cards, I always think. Please don't think I don't
want to receive your letters - never that, sweet.
I think you'll understand what I mean. Now listen
silly, and get this into your head! Supposing I
am in a new job? That doesn't mean I am going
to change. I'll still be able to get you mad
when I feel like it. So it's my turn to say stop
worrying! Months, even years, may roll by, but
as far as I can see, and I do try and figure
myself out sometimes - there's little difference in
the Dorothy you left behind nearly three years
ago, and the Dorothy of these letters. All set? No more
worrying? Fine! Had a lovely night skating last
Thursday. No spills either. George and Norma came
with Margaret and I. Funny, you know, I'm getting
back all my old enthusiasm for skating - going
next week too. Well dearest you - all I can think
of is your box of flowers - you way over there &
thinking of such a lovely thing as that. Oh darling
news is good - to-night I'm so much happier; you
have a knack of doing that to me Malcolm
Kesham. Hurry home darling, I can't decide
whether I'll be at the wharf or at the train to
meet you, but you can depend upon it that
I 'll be around somewhere. And then! Those three
years will seem like three days. Kindest regards
from all the family and from me - all my Love Dorothy 

 

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST

MELBOURNE VIC AUST 
1 30PM 
23 JUL 1943 

PASSED BY CENSOR 301 
 
Stalag 383 
20 
Gepruft 

Sgt. M.W. Kesham, 
Australian Prisoner of War No 3768 in Germany, 
STALAG 383 (Frueher Oflag 111 C), 
GERMANY 

11th July 43 

AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS

 

Miss D. Williams, 37, Byrnes Street, Bexley, N.S.W. AUSTRALIA 

3 Opened by Censor 
3 PASSED BY CENSOR 301 

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