Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, July-December 1943 - Part 13

AIR MAIL
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
NX 11067, 
SGT. KESHAM. M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER of WAR 3768 
STALAG 383.  
GERMANY
  
MISS D. WILLIAMS 
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA 
14th November, 1943 

Stalag 383
15 
Geprűft

My Dearest Mac.
Hullo you - how's tricks? How are you Mac - 
well and happy? I hope so. Receiving lots of mail I
trust - we've been pretty lucky you know, as far as
mail is concerned. Or perhaps I should say I have
been lucky, for it has been, during the last few months,
really wonderful. We mustn't complain sweet, lots
of people would envy us - I guess we're lucky at
that. Well honey - take a long look at me (a
photo is the next best thing) cause next letter I write
to you, will be written by a lady of the ripe old
age of twentyone. Imagine darling - me - twentyone.
Of course I don't really feel one year older in some
ways since that time I saw you last - in other ways
I feel as old as Methuselah! Everyone is tip top
in health Mac.  I rang your mother yesterday, and
I'll be going out to see her this coming Wednesday
evening. Ordinarily I'd be stopping the night, but
you know Daddie - he wants me to be home on
my birthday morning- bless his heart. Mac, I
am terribly lucky. Sometimes I think, if Mum &
Pop weren't such swell people I don't know how
I would keep going. They're more like pals to me
than parents. But then you'd know about that 'cause
your Mother and Father are the same. They're very

sweet to me always Mac. I feel as if I'd known them
always. Your Father is quiet, but he comes out with some
funny sayings at times and I like talking to him.
As for that mother of yours - she's a pet - we have
lots of fun. Heavens, she is a bright person Mac. She
really does me good.  And as for that son of theirs the
middle son - what would I do without him?
Maybe you'll reply that at present I'm doing without
him but that's where I fool  you. 'Cause you're
here - right in front of me. True - there's a frame
around you and no matter how hard I try you
just won't smile - but its nearly you & if I 
concentrate hard enough, I can a little smile
way down deep in your eyes, just as if you were
telling me of your love. Sometimes I try to tell
you how much I love you Mac, but the words
become choked up and I can only sit and gaze
at your likeness here in the frame and wish it were
you. Some day, it will be you, and you'll take me
In your arms and then I'll know it was worth
waiting for.  I pray for that day Mac - may it be
soon in coming. Don't forget now - next birthday
we really celebrate and you can buy me a dozen
gold pianos all at once. No more for now my 
sweet. Take good care of yourself and chin up
remember! Kindest Regards from Mum & Dad.
And from me - a big hug - a kiss & all my Love,
Dorothy

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST.
PRISONER OF WAR POST. 
AIR MAIL 
Stalag 383 
15
Geprüft 
  
SYDNEY
N.S.W. AUST
3 PM
16 NOV
1943 
POSTED IN INTERSTATE BOX 

NX 11067,
Sgt. Kesham M. W.,
Australian Prisoner of War 3768.
Stalag 383,
Germany. 
  
3 Opened by Censor 
3 Passed by Censor 376 
  
14th Nov 43

My Dearest Dot.    18th Nov 1943. 
Ive had another two letters from you darling, 11th July, 8 Aug as usual they were grand, but theres 
no need for me to tell you what it feels like to get a few letters, you seem to have had a bit of luck at similar 
you know. I was glad you liked the flowers, sweet flowers for a sweet girl. The only trouble is the 
flowers were not half sweet enough.  Sorry I couldnt deliver them myself, but maybe its just as well 
for after reading your letter, if I had been been in the position to do so ld have filled your room up with 
flowers until you would have thought all the florists in Syd had moved in. You've got me beat sweet 
I just can't find word to express my feelings.  Did you forget what I said about being at the wharf Dot, the trains 
not so bad though, thats if its Carlton Station you intend to be at, there's not many people about there, you 
know darling that first meeting got to be just you and I, and it could hardly be that way at the wharf, besides, 
what would you do if I rushed off the boat, threw both arms around you, and smothered you with 
kisses, it wouldnt look so good would it, No darling I think it would be better if we were to get away 
some where all on our own even if it means waiting an hour or so extra, then if something catches 
in your throat, I should say our, or maybe happens to your eyes well I'm afraid I'd better cut it out, 
my throat's feeling a bit queer now, but you understand don't you Dot. Ive loved you for a long time 
now darling and as the days go by so that love increases.  I have planned that first meeting 
over and over, and it's the one thing I'm looking forward too, if you could see what your letters do 
to me Dot, well even then, I dont think you would fully realise what you mean to me, and I think my 
feeling may get the best of me when we meet again.  I'm afraid I've made this letter a bit serious Dot 
but never mind I'll see if I can't do better next time.  I have a few questions to answer from 
your letters 4th  18th July, and thanks for the photo it's a beaut, though it's not to good for the other girls 
they will be frightened to send a copy to their boyfriend in case he falls for the young lady in black. 
Well darling once again I must close, give my kindest regards to everyone once again.  I hope 
and know, they will all be well again by this. Cheerio sweetheart. All my love to you.  Mac.  

Kriegsgefangenenpost
  
An      Miss D Williams
           37 Byrnes Street
           Bexley. N. S. W.
  
Empfangsort: Australia
Straße: C/o Australia House
Kreis: London W62
Land: ENGLAND 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
  
OPENED BY CENSOR 
  
PASSED BY CENSOR 1627
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: 
Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne) 
  
OPENED BY CENSOR

Kriegsgefangenenlager
Datum: 17th Nov 1943.
Dear Dot. Well it certainly seems that the letters are rolling in for you at last, that
was good to hear Dot, lets hope they keep coming, for you even if some of them are not the best
By the way Ive had two more letters from you, so you see my lucks good also 22nd & 28th
this time. Dont forget to let me know which is the best way to send my mail by
will you. By the way you certainly handed me a surprise when you told me you
were a Godmother, especially when you mentioned whos baby it was, it was the 
first I knew about it. Well young lady dont forget to look after yourself love Mac.

Kriegsgefangenenlager
Postkarte 
Luftpost par avion 
PASSED BY CENSOR 1627 
25.1143-11 

An Miss. D. Williams
37 Byrnes Street 
Empfangsort: Bexley 
Straße: N. S. W. 
Land: Australia 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.)  
  
Gebührenfreil 
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

My Dearest Dot,     18th Nov 1943 
Well darling when I wrote this you were just celebrating your birthday, though you will probably
have forgotten all about it by the time you receive this, still darling I do hope you enjoyed
yourself. My first thoughts this morning when I woke up were of you, which is nothing unusual
I just wondered what you would be doing. and wished like heck that I could have been with 
you. Id have given anything to have been able to spend just that one day with you, but then it would
have only made it all the worse when I finally had to leave you again, wouldn't it, and I dont know
that I could take that darling its bad enough as it is. Ive been looking over your photos once more
sweet, they seem to get better each time I look at them, but then you cant improve on perfect can
you, and thats just what they are to me, so I guess its just that I miss you more Dot. Its impossible for 
me to tell you how I feel in these letters darling, all I can say is, I love you very much Dot and
as you already know, I want you to marry me, and whatever I may do I wont change darling.
You probably think to yourself Im crazy Dot, but Im not; Ive never been more sincere, so you'll just 
have to believe me darling. You know Dot Ive been thinking for a long time, what can I give Dot for
her birthday. I cant send her flowers, or a present of any kind, I could send her something to get herself a present 
with but then I know my Dorothy and I don't want her mad at me, not while Im here, when I'm with her 
maybe once in a while, well then I thought of an oil painting I have, it's just been finished, quiet a good likeness 
to, but then maybe you wouldn't like it, I had no hair oil on at the time but its a very serious look 
thing, not a trace of a smile. It's not much to offer anybody I know, the only thing I like is that I'd have to 
keep it until I got back because its so big 14 by 16 inches, and I can't send it, so I would have the pleasure 
of giving it to you myself but I dont think we will call it a present, its tere if you want it though darling don't 
be frightened to knock it back. I don't want to clutter up your room with a pile of horrible pictures, but well 
you know how it is darling, I love you miss you, and all I want to do is make you happy and marry 
you. I don't want much do I. Well darling Cheerio once more. All my love darling. Mac 

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
An Miss D. Williams
37 Byrnes Street
Bexley N S W 

Empfangsort: Australia
Straße: C/o Australia House
Kreis: London W62
Land: ENGLAND  
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
  
OPENED BY CENSOR 
PASSED BY CENSOR 13

  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kushan 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne) 

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST                                                     
NX 11067,                                                                           
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.,                                                                           
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768.                                          
STALAG 383,                                                                                     
GERMANY 
  
AIR MAIL
Stalag 383 
15 
Geprüft

MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA
19th November, 1943.
  
My dearest - 
Where will I begin? First of all let me tell you
what a wonderful 21st birthday it was yesterday. Oh
gosh Mac, words couldn't describe the lovely flowers I
received from friends all around. Enough to say my
room now is crowded with them - dozens of pink carnations
with blue delphiniums- a huge bowl of dark red carnations
sweetpeas & roses - little tiny Dorothy Perkins roses and
blue corn flowers- love-in-the mist- and dark red
roses. Every time I moved away from my desk, when I
returned there would be more flowers! Telegrams came
from all over the globe and I received some really lovely
gifts. Mr Yeo gave me a cheque for £10 - I still haven't
caught my breath after it got away! We didn't have
a party Mac - just had my friends over for a piece of
cake. In the midst of all our laughter and talking
I paused with a thought for you my darling. And
after they drank a toast to me, I proposed a toast
'To those who, if they could, would be here to-night".
And I sent you my love in that prayer I silently
offered up that moment. All day long I had hoped
desperately that there would be a letter there at
home waiting for me - and one also from George.
Well, anyhow there was one from my brother and
its one I'll treasure always. Never without your