Letters between Malcolm William Kesham and Dorothy Williams, January-June 1944 - Part 2 of 14

My Dearest Dot,                         9th Jan 1944   

That mans here again Dot the same one, and feeling exactly the same as he always  
is. Did you put that date I suggested on your list yet darling, the one at the Alter(?Altar) that  
is, I wont be satisfied or happy, until I have persuaded you to say yes Dot "you must  
know that by this though, if you do decide to take a chance I'll be at you to find it at the  
top of that list darling, maybe you would rather go through the list first, in that case  
you will be a busy girl because Ill be flat out to get through it, and after the most  
important date we can start again. I suppose you think I'm taking a lot for granted  
Dot, but it's just wishful thinking I guess, anyhow call it what you like, but that's all  
I think about these days. Are you surprised at me Dot? I could say a lot more than I do  
maybe it's because I don't want to share my thoughts with anyone but you that I don't or it  
might even be that Im afraid you will think me ridiculous, you may do so as it is, I 
 cant say, but when I tell you the way I feel I mean it and no matter what you say darling  
I won't change as far as my feelings toward you are concerned. Your learning more about  
me every day Dot, or are you, maybe I writing to much and only confusing you all the  
more, is there anything you would like to know darling. Well sweetheart I still love  
you as much as ever, and I only hope that the day when I will be able to tell you that 
  
instead of write it, is not far off. Almost finished and not one bit of news for you, let's see  
now, we did try to build an Ice Rink, and also tried to get gear to play Ice Hockey but we  
had very little success as far as skates or the rink are concerned so far, so our luck is  
out there, but it wont be long before we can play foote again if nothing else, so thats some  
thing other than that nothing much [[new?]]. So once more give my best wishes to all. How is  
your mail these days, it's certainly slowed down this end, still I'll probably get a pile next  
week. Once more "Cheerio" for the time being Dot. All my love darling Mac.

Answered 9/4/?? 
  
Kriegsgefangenenpost  
-5.2.44.-11 
  
Stalag 383 
16 
Geprűft 
  
An D Williams 
37 Byrnes Street 
Bexley N.S.W. 
Empfangsort: Australia 
Strabe: C/o Australia House 
Kreis: London W.6.2 
Land: ENGLAND 
Landesteil (Provinz. usw.) 
bűhrenfreil 
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kershome 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

12th Jan 1944 
My Dearest Dot,  
Well darling at the present moment Im as happy as I could possibly be, thanks to 
you, your the only one who can make me feel the way I do at present Dot, I couldnt feel better unless 
I knew I was on my way to you darling or unless you were to say yes to me in reply  
to my proposal such as it was with every letter Dot you only succeed in making me love you all 
the more, and then I really miss you, I realize how very fortunate I am to have you to go 
back to darling, no one knows better than I how lucky I am Dot, since I left you Ive learnt a lot Dot you would be surprised and it all only goes to prove how right I am, when [[I may be?]] very fortunate.  I received three letters from you yesterday Dot, the first for some time 
26th Sept and 1st 24th [[Get?]] the letter contained a photo, which incidentally I have just  
about worn out already, and you wonder why I worry, do you think anyone, who loves 
someone else as I do you, could fail to worry Dot, [[were]] if its all unnecessary, my heart is 
not a house brick, hanging from the end of a piece of string darling. I was sorry to hear 
about your cousin, but try not to worry too much things will work out ok and you will 
probably find you are worrying over nothing, as for moaning to me, well I want to 
share all your troubles and your happy moments Dot everything as a matter of fact 
so you see there is nothing to excuse you for. You will find Ive got a lot of Dots in 
this letter darling, but they are all the same one all very dear to me and if you ever get 
a letter and every second word is Dot or Darling don't be surprised, you asked for trouble 
when you said I could tell you how I felt darling, even though you changed your mind 
later on, but to tell the truth the main reason I do not tell you more is simple that I cant 
find words good enough to express my feelings. Well the end is near once again 
still we only have until Feb so the [[fortune?]] letter said, so keep the old fingers crossed did she 
say what year, still darling its not far off. Best wishes to all and all my love to you [[?]]

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
5 2.44.-11 
Stalag 383 
16  
Geproft 
  
An D Williams 
37 Byrnes Street 
Bexley N.S.W 
Empfangsort:  Australia 
Strabe: C/0 Australia House 
Kreis:  London  W.6.2 
Land:  ENGLAND 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM MW., 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768, 
STALAG 383, 
GERMANY 
  
AIR MAIL 
  
MISS D. WILLIAMS, 
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY  N.S.W 
AUSTRALIA 
  
16 January, 1944 
  
Dearest you -  
One more week has passed. How are you, sweet? 
I haven't had any more since I wrote you last and anyhow even letters are from two to three months old - sometimes more. I wish I could walk up to you and say 'Hello ((Tiger))' then hear you tell me, instead of waiting months on end - how you are, what you've been doing & who do you love?  Then of course, I wouldn't have to write & tell you that we just had a lovely ride (horseback) out Pymble way. Cause you'd be right there with me. That's where we must go [[?]] riding out Pymble way. A crowd went from work and we hied the horses from 6:15 pm until 8:30 pm. The best part of the day. It was only just dark by the time we reached the stables. Boy did I have a grand horse darling. I only had to lean forward in the saddle and off he'd trot. (I think it was a he - doesn't matter much - mostly I call all horses 'she') Her/or his) action was that of a pacer. Gee - I never get tired of riding! Say honey, are you coming home soon?  How soon I mean? Pretty soon, maybe? Of course I'm only fooling - I know 

you'd be home in a twinkle if you only could. Sometimes [[?]], I wish so desperately that you would come home that it gets a hold of me and worries me. There are so many, many, things I want to talk to you about, [[?]] problems and such that cannot be written down on paper and yet if I don't get them off my chest I'll go nutty. And yet, I cant discuss it with anyone else - you're the only one who can give me the answers I need [[?]]. 
I'm sounding like a 'Dorothy Dix" extract; don't take any notice of me, darling. I have to indulge in a little self-pity at times. Only mostly its not self pity - but us - pity. I get mad when I think of the wonderful precious time I'm losing - were losing you and I. Then right away I want someone who loves somebody too - only their loved one wont ever be coming back. Like the man - he had no shoes and he complained until he met a man who had no [[?]]. Darling [[?]] - don't you even get blue - don't even get so miserable and down in the dumps - cause I love you, my dear even [[?]] and I'd hate to think you weren't taking life with a grin v giving it back & kick in the pants for luck. Everyone here at home sends love and hopes you're well & cheerful. Everyone hopes with me that it wont be long now. I sincerely think our day is not far distant  now. So chin-up mate! You're an Aussie and boy, how proud I am of you. Once again - all my love and a great big Cheerio. Dorothy

NX 11067 
Sgt. Kesham, M. W. 
Australian Prisoner of War 3768 
Stalag 383, Germany                     198

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

Hello Dot,             19^th Jan 1944 
Hows the world treating my little mystery lady these days, no darling your not a mystery 
to me now, we of all people should know each other by this, for we both feel exactly the 
same darling. The old question pops up once more Dot, what will we say when we meet, I often wonder 
myself, but when that moment comes I may not be able to talk for a while myself. I have heard 
of people being to happy for words, and yet you may not be able to stop me I have a lot I 
want to tell you, mainly about yourself or us. Ive been saving it up for a long time darling 
then again just to hold you and look at you and maybe steal a few of those matches, remember 
what could be better, though it wouldnt be fair to you Dot because I couldnt keep a tally of the 
matches not at a time like that, could you? still thats another one of those things that will 
work itself out when the time comes darling. I only hope that time is not far away, its getting 
worse every day each day I think it cant get worse but it does darling, each day I miss you 
more, and love you more than ever, and at maybe I just lay awake thinking of that little girl 
over in Aussie who means so much to me and who I dont know what Id do without. Im 
not surprised at you feeling miserable after reading my letters sweetheart after all they are 
all very much the same, and not what you would call cheerful, still if they are not to good 
just burn em Dot, I cant improve no matter how I try, sorry. Still no news about the camp 
for you, they do hold dances now and then but I never go, the only thing I take part in is sport Dot, 
otherwise I keep very much to myself. I go dancing with you, and until we can go places together, Im 
contented to wait, well, Ill wait anyhow even if not contented the fact that we are waiting for 
each other will keep me going until then. Well darling another one of these letters drawing 
to a close, give my best wishes to all, and you have all I can send you Dot always. By the way 
dont think I dont want photos because I dont keep worrying you for them. I always want them Dot 
as many as I can get, you know that dont you darling Cheerio for the present Dot All my love Mac

An  Miss D Williams 
Empfangsort:   37 Byrnes Street 
Strasse:   Bexley 
Kreis:   N. S. W 
Land:    AUSTRALIA 
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname:  Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer:  3768   (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung:   M.-Stammlager 383