Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, January-June 1944 - Part 1 of 14
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Dearest Dot,
1st Jan 1944.
Well darling here goes for the first letter of the new year, lets hope it a better one than
the last, the year I mean, I dont think you will find much difference in the letters, sorry if
Im disappointing you, but as a matter of fact the way I feel now I think its going to be full
of these crazy sayings, you see that old complaint of mine is worse than ever lately, lack
of you that is, Id give anything to be with you right now sweet, I cant find words to tell you
how much I really miss you and love you, and when I say no one has ever meant as much to
me as you do, well you just have to take my word for it. Am I boring you Dot sorry but thats
the way I am feeling these days, and I find it hard to write about anything else, besides there is
no news about this place, it's too cold and wet for sport, nothing ever happens every days the same
just waiting, and I wont waste space telling you about the weather, so you see it does not leave
me much to write about, well anyhow that my excuse for all my crazy talk as you call it
Dot. I had to laugh at the part in your last letter where you said "Dont think I'm a sticky beak" you
know what I think you are, or have you forgotten, maybe Id better tell you again, in a way your
lucky Im not near you at present, cause if I got my arms around you Id squeeze all the breath out
of you. While I remember Dot don't forget to put both numbers on my mail will you, I believe
the Red X are not readdressing them in future and that saves time, same as you put on the
top of your letters only two numbers ok. Strange as it may seem Ill be glad when this week
is over, this and the last have been the worst Ive experienced, everything seemed so dead
and the time dragged worse than ever, still the next one will be ours, thats Xmas I'm talking about
and then we will make up for most of what we have missed. Once again best wishes to all
and dont forget I still want to marry you darling I havent changed in the least you see. I'm not
being very fair to you am I sweet, but Im only trying to worry you into saying yes. For the present
its "Cheerio". Dot, its just as well for you I cant write a long letter, Id drive you crazy. All my love Mac
OPENED BY CENSOR
Kriegsgefangenenpost
Luftpost
par avion
Stalag 383
19
Geprüft
2
PASSED
BY
CENSOR
1681
13.1.44-11
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 Kesham.
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747)
Lager-Bezeichunug: M.Stammlager 383.
Deutschland (Allemagne)
AIR MAIL Stalag 383 15 Geprüft
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
'44
2nd January, 1943
Dearest Mac,
Hello darling - Happy New Year! Here it
is - 1944 - another year of wonderings and "ifs" and
"whens". This will be the year though Mac sweet.
How have you been? Lots of mail, huh ? I hope
its arriving regularly dear. Gosh honey, waiting this this is a pretty tough job - you see Ive' been
swimming at Cronulla all day to-day (Sunday)
and that ole man sun has left his mark on
me somewhat. Yep - I'm sunburnt - again! But
I don't mind much, 'cause by about Wednesday
next I'll be a beaut. tan. How's your tan these days?
Mac you should see my horse "Andy"! He's made of
red felt and I keep him on the bookcase.
His legs are the stretchiest kind + he soughta bends in the middle. Young Pluto + Donald
(remember them?) just stand and gaze at him in
wonderment. Certainly looks as if Im' entering my
second childhood pretty early, don't you reckon?
Works going on much the same as ever Mac. I had
to work half a day yesterday (New Year's Day) &
although to-morrow too, is a holiday, nevertheless
I have to work again. No it doesn't worry me
any, darling. What's a day! We had quite a bit
of excitement during the week, when the film star
American John Wayne called in. (Probably you
won't remember him.) Anyhow - he's every bit
as nice as he appears on the films - and a tremendously
big chap. Of course all the feminine
hearts went a flutter. No - I reckon Id' rather
have my Aussie P.O.W. just the same + Don't go for
these fellows who marry just on every six
months or so. Oh Mac, sometimes it becomes so
hard to write to you without filling every
line telling you I wished you were on your
way home, how much I miss you + all the
[[dogen?]] and, one little things that it seems I
repeat letter after letter. But there is one thing
I can tell you again + again. I love you Mac -
you and all the wonderful things you
stand for. With each day, remember Im'
thinking of you Mac, and wishing you were
here with me. Once again - love from all the
family and from your own [[birlliaint?]] gal - all
My Love, Dorothy
3 Opened by Censor
PRISONER OF WAR POST
KRIEGSGEFANGEN EN POST.
Air Mail
PASSED BY CENSOR 301
SYDNEY
4-PM
7 JAN
1944
9 9
N.S.W. AUST
Stalag 383
15
Geprüft
Rank & Name. NX 11067, SGT. KESHAM. M
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR No. 3768
198[[8 or 7?]]
Camp STALAG 383,
Country of Internment GERMANY
From MISS D. WILLIAMS
37 Byrnes Street
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA
3 Opened by Censor
AIR MAIL Stalag 383 16 Geprüft
KRIEGSGEFANGENEN POST
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
9th January, 1944
My Darling,
Some extra nice things have been happening
to me to-day. Gee Mac, I hope you have some
bright spots in your monotonous life over there.
You are always thinking up something to brighten
my days - those flowers for instance. They arrived
yesterday afternoon while I was at work - gosh
how I wished you could have seen them Mac. There
was a little [[spnay?]], especially which I loved - tiny
red roses with creamy frangipani. Then there were
all colours of hydrange - dahlias in pinks + reds
and delphiniums. Of course the rosebuds were lovely
too. You can see it was quite a box of flowers! Thank
you darling - for such a very sweet thought. Pop
was in here last night + as he always gives me your
letters, I had to wait until this morning - luckily
I was unaware of the existence of that letter, on I
fear I would have spent a very restless night.
Your letter is dated 17th October 1943. No, I haven't
by any means forgotten what you asked me, Mac.
I think about it an awful lot. But I'm afraid
[[?]] must think me rather a queer person dearest.
[?] that I mind, actually So long as you keep on
loving me I won't mind at all. I guess by this
winter is just about on the wan now? Right now
darling I'm getting in as much swimming as I
can. Last Friday after work, six of us went
down to Coogee Aquarium + had a gorgeous swim,
until half past eight. Last night we went again;
and, trust me, I dived in too deep and took a
bit off my elbow. I am the clumsiest person! But
nevertheless I get an awful lot of fun. Haven't been
skating for months nor dancing. Looks
as if we'll have to learn all over again to-gether.
Of course I'll be an expert at writing and sewing
and such. However you, no doubt, are quite handy
at even sewing, huh? Were' all very well dearest;
Mac, I'm just as fit as a fiddle, so don't ever worry
about me. Just look after yourself darling - for me.
Look forward to our day which is fast drawing
near and don't let anything get you down.
Always remember - I love you darling + that's
how I'll always be. Hurry time for me Mac
and hurry home. Cheerio for now and all my Love.
Dorothy
KRIEGSGEFANGENENTPOST
AIR MAIL
SYDNEY
11-AQM
13 JAN
1944
8 8
NSW AUST
NX11067,
Sgt. Kesham, M. W.
Australian Prisoner of War 3768,
Stalag 383. Germany
PASSED BY CENSOR 44
Stalag 383
16
Geprüft
9th January
198
PRISONER OF WAR POST
Miss D. Williams.
37 Byrnes St,
BEXLEY
NSW
AUSTRALIA.
3 Opened by Censor
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