Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, July-December 1943 - Part 6

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Love Letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.17
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 10

SERUICE DES PBISONNIERS OE CUERRE KRIEGSSEFANGENENPOST 16 12800 L 1943 1 S8t. M. W Austrellan Prisoner of MerNo. 7768 in Germany STALAG 383 Hernener Oflag 111 C) OH INY 22nd an CROSS
Mhes Sititians, Dl Bytnss St. BonlOS, D.SH Australia. Josu 49 pouodo & 3COpened by Censor
PAISONCR OF WAR POST - 37 Byrnes Sfeet NX 1106 AIR MAIL O SCT. KESHAM MN. FECEI AUSTRAWAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768, 31 AuC 1948 STALAC 383 (Trucher oplay III C) 28 August, NX AUSTRALLAN CERMANY. AEOKEN Havling Mac- Hulls! What are you doing with yourself these days, seldier? Ane you well - imafe asalving regueasly - all the Emellion and one questions swes, I ban's ask them all caer again has, but he suse and tell ime. Since Lne mecched your last batch of letters I feel much more settled (yn my mend and don peasuading myself wse to be conjuing up all sests of visions in ray mind hossible things. Mar deases I wish somued that I could wahe up one monning and find you hach have in Sudacy! At times is hecedes an absession with oe inlagination can play speculiar itricks one. Bus this Iknew - one day I hell make up and as I be in bed a weam happy glow will cheep cag mmy hears and I will say to myself to-day dee see nac. Oh Mac in the photo, sole as me and step playing taicks with my hears. Moi- in. the photo, what is the like, this Sgt., whose umage you are. Ave his eyes as leasion and as teasing as Iue rememb eaed them these pass years. I know he laves ime, cause he toed me so many times in his letters, yes, but ever before he wens, I think I read it in his eyes But does the know I lave him too, does he believe in me alongewith my lane? Cause of he didns, where would Ahe. A wened have nothing to dream of - I guess is
would shake everything I have liner my iseals on Yoser daaling hew dreadfully sesions I am getting. Hey Where camevene of your trace! Lpasmise Ruesn's go seaious on you again dane. Hometimes I fooges I have aney tio pages each week and seans halmbling Mac - Buller Read us a paisoner of har un Geaman. I had a letter from your mother exsteaday and is was she who llsed (you. To nighd Iou going to waite to his mother and get his addness. He wonder he brains waitten tame, Mac. psse news when I find any details from his Mother, prelyn is down fou a holiday and consequently you feeling ipaetty seeepy. Litenty Teate on bldnesday evening juss the two of us, shating as the Glace on Thursday righ and last aid hum and myself wears to Calton theatoe to be a mickey Rosser film. lugie been very lusy at mank, so you can see mey teaed Fo feelling. Remember ofa week, and how weaned Pep was with me out almess eveay night. - Basling that week means se much to the pid of seventeen & when hhat ped grew up, her dreams were weaen sad that week and has fella Losk after yourself hrac; say a prayer for me feom as - keep your chin up and guard pen dreans davling. Noa from heem and Rep, Neama, Betty & Grooge. Oh dad juss in case you should see that gi will yu, thll hear that that give is meay coel in lave with pear. Craakspal. Aosaathy
SERUICE DES PMISCMIERS OE CUERRE. KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 38 1943 Set. M. W. KESHAM. Australlan Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany. STALAG 383 (Frueher STIIII) CERNANY. WSSIMIN 25 alivy AED CROSS
SD.MIHan. Sr. Bros S Poe AustraIIa. 100 AAPS I Cpeacd b C N. S. M
32 59 20 820 KregeleEnEenCNPOSI LuftpoSt per CU0 Casteron Strade: Kreis: Land BIOUSMMMS engrM cton pO S
AIR MAIL Byes Siect NX1106 BEXLEY. N.SW. SEO SCT. KESHAM,M.N. METRALIR. AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768, STALAC 383 Hith September, 1943. CERMANY 214 Talls daring, Things are may quies here as wask this apteanson so I am taking advantage of the buill and waiting yeu. do- night the gixes of cur club are giving a physisle culture diplar as Dlch die and Idiaks wans to leave your letter until to messon because Sunday is usually a near lusy day feo ae. You know - all the litte things a give has to do. Clsthes to be pressed, a stich Inthes and a stitch in that if all takes time Besides, Ia like to go up & have a game of temys tomass if its nice weather. Thace months slace due played three my that's quite a while isas iis? Bus lash how long thace years can be. [Anxrow - where were we Talking of temis and weather, that's nigh! Spang is hener and lasks like staying. This weekn has been weally denious nac. Daffodils ase ad asound Deydacy - obr fan sumner though! Ysurday masked the end of the Ssuath year of way, sh well sinces, it wan' be much langer Oyow so keep that chen high. The nighs before las thai's Thursday) I paid a uises to your place + stayed the night, going to weak from these the near mosaing Coumbs Har thas young Manganer is a cute little thing Same of the things the says are tessibly funry, coming frsm such a little thing. You are going to find a his difference in your family (when you leae meare hle Meaor gnawed up and Tay Co - Young Mang was
only a haby hen you wens away wasn's she?On yps, there's another peason who has grown, up quite t his since you left lustralia. Only she pasn's chaaged such a grear dear honest! Of lousse you hnad to when so refeasing. Say imagie that! Ine get sofar and prdens even tol you kny news. Had another letter from you has - it was dated 12s June, and is came last Monday - Sept 1st. Pretty goad seavice: haw listen, quit wsraying about that hid boother being a wsday teare. Why dasling; I haven's peen him in eigh manchs now, and en bay case, res o nce chap; I was going to say a nice kex, bs he iasulan like that ou ask hew tall and Twe feet eighs uches n Case feet hous thast Reesis mee with your appossall. Cause if it seesn's, then therell he hsow just between you and little se! Your dareing Luser Laid have you here, even to an a with. Altho I guessme isulds do mch nowing - at fiass anyhew. hews is mighty scaace anound these parts this week, bus I know you haven mended my peaseless hamblings. Lhich this blesses was would pussn up and as over with, cause Im getting lonelien eveny day and thols just had sine Oh wll - heaes thaping hay sahing hand to see you soon- very sear: Int the fineantone you have iy lave tawe and heart dayein to you nexe lweek hroe he good. ! All ay oI


SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE. 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
  
PAR AVION 
Aust. - U.S.A. - Portugal 
  
MELBOURNE 
12 30PM 
3 SEP 
1943 
VIC-AUST 
  

PASSED 
BY  
CENSOR 
148 
  
Stalag [383 
15 
Geprüft 

Sgt. M. W. KESHAM
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany
  
STALAG 383 (Frueher Oflag 111 C)
GERMANY.
198 22nd Aug 
  
AUSTRALIAN 
+ A 
RED CROSS

 

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

3 Opened by Censor 
3 Opened by Censor 

PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
148

 

PRISONER OF WAR POST 
NX 11067, 
SGT. KESHAM, M.W., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768,  
STALAG 383., (Frueher Oflag IIIC) 
GERMANY. 
  
AIR MAIL 
  
RECEIVED 
31 AUG 1943 
AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS 
  
MISS D. WILLIAMS, 
37 BYRNES STREET, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA 

Stalag 383 
15 
Geprüft
  
28 August, 1943.  

Darling Mac-
Hullo! What are you doing with yourself
these days, soldier? Are you well - mail arriving
regularly - all the million and one questions sweet, I
won’t ask them all over again Mac, but be sure and
tell me. Since I’ve received your last batch of letters
I feel much more settled in my mind and I’m
persuading myself not to be conjuring up all sorts
of visions in my mind - horrible things. Mac dearest
I wish so much that I could wake up one morning
and find you back home in Sydney! At times it
becomes an obsession with me -  imagination can
play peculiar tricks ^ on one. But this I know - one day
I will wake up and as I lie in bed a warm happy
glow will creep over my heart and I will say to myself
“to-day I’ll see Mac.” Oh-Mac-in-the-photo, smile at
me and stop playing tricks with my heart. Mac-in-
the-photo, what is he like, this Sgt., whose image you
are? Are his eyes as brown and as teasing as I’ve remembered  
them these past years? I know he loves me, ‘cause
he told me  - so many times - in his letters, yes, but
even before he went, I think I read it in his eyes. But
does he know I love him too, does he believe in me
along with my love? ‘Cause if he didn't, where would
I be? I would have nothing to dream of - I guess it 

 

would shake everything I have built my ideals on.
Gosh darling how dreadfully serious I am getting! Hey
there come out of your trace! I promise I won’t go
serious on you again darl. Sometimes I forget I have
only two pages each week and start a rambling.
Mac - Bulles Head is a prisoner of war in Germany!
I had a letter from your Mother yesterday and it
was she who told me. To-night I’m going to write
to his Mother and get his address. No wonder he
hasn’t written to me, Mac. More news when I find
out details from his Mother. Jocelyn is down for a
holiday and consequently I’m feeling pretty sleepy.
Liberty Theatre on Wednesday evening, just the two
of us, skating at the Glace on Thursday night
and last night. Mum and myself went to Carlton
theatre to see a Mickey Rooney film. We’ve been
very busy at work, so you can see how tired
I’m feeling. Remember our week, and how worried
Pop was with me out - almost every night. - Darling-
that week meant so much to that kid of seventeen
& when that kid grew up, her dreams were woven round
that week and that fella. Look after yourself Mac;
say a prayer for me - for us - keep your chin up
and guard your dreams darling: Love from Mum
and Pop, Norma, Betty & George. Oh and  just in case
you should see that guy, will you tell him that
that girl is very much in love with him? Thanks pal!
Dorothy

 

SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS DE GUERRE.
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST
PAR AVION 
Aust. - U.S.A. - Portugal 
  
MELBOURNE 
3:30PM 
9 SEP
1943 
VIC-AUST
  

PASSED 
BY  
CENSOR 
858

Sgt. M. W. KESHAM.
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 in Germany.
STALAG 383 (Frueher Oflag III C)
GERMANY. 
  
Stalag 383 
15 
Geprüft 
  
AUSTRALIAN 
+ A 
RED CROSS 
  
28th Aug 
198

 

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

PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
398 
3 Opened by Censor

 

My Dearest Dot,                        29th Aug 1943 
Well darling I dont know what to say this time its a month now since Ive heard 
from you, though I did get a letter from home telling me you had been called up, it may 
seem strange  to you Dot but I was disappointed to hear that, maybe it's because Im afraid 
it may change you in some way and thats the last thing I want to happen, still thats being 
silly isn't it.  I can quite understand you saying in one of your letters, Ive got to have faith in 
you although it was unnecessary darling, but I suppose I do make you wonder at times How  
is this funny old world treating you still in the best of health and happy sweet don't forget to 
stay that way will you. Give my kindest regards to everyone once more and as you should 
know my love is always with you.  Tell me Dot am I just the luckiest fellow going or havent 
you made up your mind yet now don't tell me you dont know what Im talking about 
still maybe your not to keen on being called [[?]]. I wonder but joking aside there's 
nothing I want more darling you know that don't you and this is one time when Ive 
got to get my own way, I could have told you all this when we were last together but I 
didn't know how to start, and besides I didn't get much encouragement did I.  Enclosed you 
should find a photo Dot, its not a very good one but the best I can do for the present if I  
can possibly get any more you will have them so keep the old fingers crossed young lady. 
I expect my mail will take a bit longer to reach you now you will have to get your  
Mother to send it on still better late than never so as long as you get it its ok.  Well darling its 
getting near the end, dont forget what Im always saying, dont worry about me, I wont change 
ever, my health is the best, and our day is coming fast so just look after yourself for me 
wont you Well sweet I hope I havent bored you to much repeating myself over and over in 
all my letters, but you know how I feel darling, and you cant think one way and write another 
Once again its the finish for now Cheerio darling and All my love to you. Mac

 

Kriegsgefangenpost 
RD AMERIKA  
Luftpost 
par avion 
1943-11 
  
2 OPENED BY CENSOR 
2 OPENED BY CENSOR
  

PASSED 
BY  
CENSOR 
1641
  
Stalag 383 
20 
Geprüft 
  
An Miss D Williams 
Empfangsort: 37 Byrnes Street 
Straße: Bexley 
Kreis: N.S.W. 
Land: Australia 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
Gebührenfreil          
  
Absender 
Vor- und Zuname:  Malcolm William Keshan 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichung:    M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne)
1641

 

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

SEP 
1943 
AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS 
  
MISS D. WILLIAMS 
37 Byrnes St 
BEXLEY N.S.W.  
AUSTRALIA
4th September, 1943

Hullo darling,            
Things are very quiet here at work this afternoon so
I am taking advantage of the lull and writing you. Tonight  
the girls of our club are giving a physical culture
display out at Dulwich Hill and I didn't want to
leave your letter until to-morrow because Sunday is
usually a very busy day for me. You know - all the
little things a girl has to do. Clothes to be pressed, a
stitch in this and a stitch in that - it all takes time.
Besides, I'd like to go up & have a game of tennis to-morrow
if it's nice weather. Three months since I've played
Mac - my, that's quite a while isn't it? (But look 
how long three years can be). Anyhow - where were we?
Talking of tennis and weather, that's right! Spring is
here and looks like staying. This week has been really
glorious Mac. Daffodils are all around Sydney - oh for
summer though! Yesterday marked the end of the fourth
year of war - oh well sweet, it won' be much longer
now, so keep that chin high. The night before last
(that's Thursday) I paid a visit to your place & stayed
the night, going to work from there the next morning.
Crumbs Mac that young Margaret is a cute little thing.
Some of the things she says are terribly funny, coming
from such a little thing. You are going to find a big
difference in your family when you come home Mac.
Norm grown up and Fay too. Young Marg. was

 

only a baby when you went away wasn't she? Ah
yes, there's another person who has grown up quite
a bit since you left Australia. Only she hasn't changed
such a great deal - honest! Of course you know to
whom I'm referring: Say imagine that! I've got
so far and haven't even told you my news. Had another
letter from you Mac - it was dated 1st June, and it
came last Monday - Sept 1st. Pretty good service!
Now listen, quit worrying about that kid brother
being a worry to me. Why darling; I haven't seen
him in eight months now, and in any case, he's a
nice chap; I was going to say a nice kid, but he
wouldn't like that. You ask how tall am I? Five
feet eight inches in bare feet - how's that? Does it 
meet with your approval? Cause if it doesn't, then 
there'll be a row between you and little me!
Gosh darling. I wish I did have you here, even to
have a row with. Altho' I guess we wouldn't do much
rowing - at first anyhow. News is mighty scarce
around these parts this week, bus I know you
haven't minded my senseless ramblings. I wish
this blessed war would hurry up and get over
with, 'cause I'm getting lonelier every day and that's
just bad sweet. Ah well - here's hoping Mac hoping
hard to see you soon- very soon: In the meantime
you have my love - true and honest darling. See  
you next week Mac - be good! All my love 
Dorothy 
  
Stalag 383 
21 
Geprüft

Last edited by:
Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
Last edited on:

Last updated: