Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, January-June 1944 - Part 3 of 14

Kriegsgefangenenlager 
Datum: 20th Jan 1944 

Dear Dot, I have just been trying to write a letter to you Dot its in answer to one 
I received to-day 8th Oct; Im afraid its a bit beyond me at present though, so if 
its a little late you will know why, I just cant seem to get going and I dont know 
what to say Im afraid, still dont let it worry you. How are you keeping Dot 
still in the best of health and enjoying yourself I hope. As for myself 
Im in the pink and looking forward to a bit of fine weather and some 
sport. Well give my best wishes to all, for the present “Cheerio” Mac.

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Postkarte 
Luftpost par avion 
ŰBER NORD AMERIKA 

An Miss D. Williams  
Empfangsort : 37 Byrnes Street 
Bexley
Sydney
StraBe : N .S.W
Land : AUSTRALIA

-2.2.44.-11

Geprűft  
Gebűhrenrei!  
Absender:   
Vor- und Zuname: 
Malcolm William Keshan   
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747)   
Lager-Bezeichnung: Landesteil (Provinz usw. 
M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne) 

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST.   
NX 11067,  
SGT. KESHAM, M.W.  
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768,  
STALAG 383,   
GERMANY 15 
AIR MAIL
MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA.
21 January 1944

My Darling: 
You are the dearest old fuss in the world! Your mother 
rang me yesterday & mentioned that you had written her 
a card asking her to buy me something for my birthday. 
My gosh - even over there you can think of things like 
that. Don't worry, sweet, that sort of thing doesn't worry 
me any. Besides [[Ill']] keep you poor running you around 
when you come home. So start saving all your halfpennies 
Mac - you know my extravangance. We had a great night last 
Monday. Mavis Hebblewhite had her twentyfirst birthday 
& held a small party to celebrate. Mostly girls, of course, 
but we knocked some fun out of it, nevertheless. Betty 
and [[Leaura/Norma?]] were there with me; as usual Betty had us 
in fits of laughter. She ended up by walking home without 
her shoes, because she had blisters on her heels. Can you 
imagine her paddling along barefooted? As a matter of fact she 
intended going home in some friends' car but it got half way up 
the hill & then broke down. Pop took over at that stage 
and from then on was fixing the blessed engine until

almost 1.45 in the morning. Poor Daddie - that always happens to 
him! Then on Wednesday evening we went to the Tivoli: It 
was a bonza show - all song hits - and the star was Jenny 
Howard. Remember the night we went to the Regent theatre & 
she sang "Till the Lights of London Shine again." Ive 'never 
forgotten the way she sang that & always that song has been 
connected with you, so that whenever I hear it I immediately 
think of you. Say - are you going to take me to the Tivoli 
when you come home Mac? They have some very good shows 
there and the ballet is really lovely. Some of those girls 
would have these Hollywood glamour gals watching their 
step. Well darling, Ive' been stepping out quite a lot 
this week and getting terribly tired, as a result. 
Remember how tired I was that week, three years ago? 
I laugh everytime I think of how you bundled me inside 
so Pop wouldn't be annoyed. You always looked after me 
so, didn't you darling? Gee I wish you were here. 'Cause 
right now, I could do with some looking after. And I 
mean the right kind of "looking after" too not merely some- 
one to put their arms around me, but someone to talk to - to 
discuss so many things with - someone who I am sure loves me 
& whom I love in return. Come what may, sweet, don't ever 
do anything rash or anything that may endanger 
yourself. Look after yourself for me. And once 
again - from a girl to a boy - All my love 
Dorothy.

[*3 Opened by Censor*] EGSGEFANGENEN POST. AIR MAIL 
[*3 [[?ONER]] OF WAR POST ) [*SYDNEY 
PASSED 10 4 15 AM 10 
BY [ * 1944 TO 45* ] 6 JAN 
CENSOR 1944 
268*] N.S.W AUST*] 
NX 11067, 
Sgt. Kesham, M. W., 
Australian Prisoner of War 3768, 
Stalag 383, Germany 
21st Jan 44
198
Stalag 383 
15 
Geprűft 

Miss D, Williams, 
37 Byrnes Street, 
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA. 
[*3 Opened by Censor*]

Dearest Dot, 24th Jan 1944 
Well darling I’ve received another two letters 8th and 31st but I have been waiting for 
one in particular for some time and now that I have it I don’t know what to say. I’m a pretty 
hopeless sort of person don’t you reckon. naturally I was very disappointed, thats putting it 
mildly. Sometimes I think I understand your letter and at other times I’m a bit doubtful, 
still I’m not very much of anything at present: I want you to be sure of everything darling, just 
as sure as I am myself, so don’t worry about keeping me waiting for my answer. I’ll wait as 
long as you like. I don’t want you to say yes because you feel sorry for me Dot. I feel the same 
way about that as you do my darling. I want you to be as sure of everything when you answer as I 
was when I asked you for your own sake. As for thinking someone else is around, well when 
you tell me yourself I will start thinking about that, when I said I have all the faith 
in the world in you Dot I meant it, admittedly plenty of things have happened that have 
shaken my faith in lots of things, but they only strengthen my faith in you. I loved that 
brat, as she called herself, that I left behind dearly, even if she didn’t know it at the time, 
and since my love has increased more than I thought possible, anyhow Dot at 
least I have made you happy and nothing pleases me more than to be able to do that. 
I hope you understand all this Dot as I look back over it it seems very patchy IF 

me even, still I always was a bit that way, being honest, after reading your letter I just dont' 
know what to say, but it doesnt' make any difference. I still feel the same only more [[so Evt???]] 
so Im just going to keep the fingers crossed, and keep hoping, that’s all I can do, worse luck. Tell 
me darling do I have to have something special to be proud of you, not that it makes any 
difference I could tell you many reasons why I should be, but couldn’t I be proud of the fact 
that there is only one you and your mine, or maybe I shouldnt have said that. Well my 
darling the end is here once more. Best wishes to all Cheerio all my love darling Mac

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
[*Luftpost 
[*ŰBER NORD AMERIKA*??] par avion*] [*-2.2.44-11*] 
[[* Stalag 383 23 Geprűft ??*]] 
[* 2 OPENED BY CENSOR *] 

An: Mrs D Williams 
37 Byrnes Street 
[*PASSED 
By Censor Empfangsort: Bexley 
1429 *] StraBe: Sydney 
Kreis: N . S . W 
Land: AUSTRALIA 
[[?enfreil]] Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 

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

My Dearest Mac 30th January, 1944 
Sunday evening once again v here I am all set to write you the doings 
of the week. Once again I am burnt "to a cinder" after swimming at Bondi 
all day. The swim was well worth it tho' & golly, Ill' be brown by the 
end of the week. Mac, how do you like these new forms? I thought it may get to 
you somewhat quicker, so let me know if there is a difference in time. Received your 
letter dated 25 October 43, and was of course delighted. But what is the thing you 
remember so distinctly - what did I do darling that stands out so plainly? You 
just have to tell me now sweet - no excuses. I paid a visit to your place on 
Wednesday night last - had tea, took some snaps & enjoyed myself immensely. 
And you just should see the lovely play-suit your Mother bought me as a present 
from you for my birthday! Its' grand. Ill' have my photo taken v send it to 
you darling - thank you ever so much for thinking of me. Your mother asked 
me to tell you that your kit has arrived here Mac, but she must have your 
written permission before she can collect it. Better write Mac, or else your kit 
may perish or something, if left there much longer. Well my dearest here's the 
end of this note - all too soon. Look after yourself Mac honey v keep that 
chin way up. Good night my love _ sleep tight' 
All my Love - Always - Dorothy 

PRISONER OF WAR POST [[AIR ???]] SYDNEY Stalag 383 PASSED 
KREIGSGEFANGENEN POST [[4.15AM??]] 15 BY 
SERVICE DES PRISONNIERS [[10 1 FEB 10?]] Geprüft CENSOR 
DE GUERRE. 1944 261
N.S.W. AUST
SERVICE No. NX11067 RANK SGT. 
(Not required for P.O.W in Germany) 
INITIALS M. W. SURNAME KESHAM. 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR No. 3768. 
(Insert Nationality) 
FULL CAMP ADDRESS, OR IF NOT KNOWN, WHERE LAST SERVING 
OR HEARD OF STALAG 383, [* 198*]
Germany [*30th Jan 44*] 
a.w. 250m 10/43-B.15

NAME AND ADDRESS OF SENDER 
Miss D. Williams , 
37 Byrnes Street, BEXLEY 
N.S.W. AUSTRALIA 

SUPPLIED FREE BY THE AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY