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