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

12th June 1944 
Dearest Dot, 
At last the mail has started to roll in again. I received four last week 27th
Feb, 8th & 22nd Mar, 1st April. I was very pleased to hear how you enjoyed your 
self at the Valley it certainly must be a great place. So you want to have a date every
Sat, Sun and Wed well I suppose I will have to be content with three days its not
much good me asking for more you never agree with me do you who gets the other
four, you said thats not when I first get back, don't you wish to see me at all for a
while, I've been hoping for a long long while that it would myself that would be
coming home from work to you every night, still if I go asking questions I must
expect to be disappointed I suppose anyhow our three days will be well spent
unless the right person comes along in the mean time that is. By the way you
know your oil painting, well it well on the way home with a [[repat?]]; there
are two of them. I told mother your to have your pick when they arrive
but when you get it roll it up and put it away that’s if you think it’s worth
putting away; dont go showing it to anyone, I can just imagine you saying
as you look at it, as if I would, anyhow don’t forget now will you. Well darling 
Im getting old Im a whole 25 this month, its going on for four years since
you last saw me, how do you know what I will be like, you only have
my letters to judge by and I don’t think they are much of a guide, maybe
you will get a surprise when I come back I wonder, still I dont think I
have changed a great deal, and I do love you if that’s any help, it doesn’t
seem to help me much you wont let it. By the way I see you are still
very fond of that stuff the bees make honey. Hows the mail question
everything alright. Well its Cheerio for now. All my love Mac. 

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Luftpost 
par avion 

21. 6.44. -11 

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

[*OPENED BY CENSOR*] 
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemange)

16th June 1944 
Dearest Dot, 
I had the pleasure of finding two letters on my bunk to-day Dot 9th 15th April. You said
in one, we would not count matches on our first night, it was a relief to see that darling. I was
afraid you wouldn't agree, seeing that I suggested it, and you being so bossy however bossy or
otherwise that offer of marriage does not need any reconsidering so get that little idea
out of your head, it still stands until you either say yes, or tell me I have a hard neck to
even think you would say anything but no. Seeing as you must have it I guess it's
once through the list first; but its hardly fair you know only giving me three days a week
we'll never get through the list at that rate darling, be a bit reasonable Dot seven days a
week is all I ask, after all, your other boy friends are having seven days now, or maybe
your just trying to wear me out so that I don't care what happens if you are you
have a lot of answering to do sweetheart. Your first letter was grand Dot and
what made it better than ever was the snap of that lovely little girl I love so much
if I could only write a book I could tell just how nice you really are. What did
you want to spoil the second one for Dot; I thought we had banned your Jerry
and his cute friends from my letters, or didn't we agree on that point either, however
it doesn't matter, I'll just shove that one on the bottom of the pile. Enclosed you
will find a snap of an Aussie Rules team it's the only one I could get for you Dot.
I suppose it's better than nothing, hope you like it. You have me feeling mad at
present young lady I wish you wouldn't mention those people, one of these days I
will be saying something I don't mean and I'll be sorry for it when its to late, if you
keep it up. Well just like good things, all bad ones come to an end and its almost here,
give my best wishes to everyone once more and don't forget to take care of yourself just
for me won't you. As always darling you have All my love. Cheerio for now Mac. 

NORDAMERIKA 
Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Luftpost 
par avion 

21. 6.44. -11 

An Miss. D. Williams 
37 Byrnes Street 
Empfangsort: Bexley 
Strabe: Sydney 
Kreis: N.S.W. 
Land: AUSTRALIA. 
Gebührenfreil Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 

[[sender:]] 
- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnung: M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemange)

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST. 
PRISONER OF WAR POST. AIR MAIL. FROM: 
NX11067, SGT. MALCOLM WILLIAM KESHAM, MISS DOROTHY WILLIAMS, 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR: 3768 (1747), 37 BYRNES STREET, 
STALAG 383, BEXLEY, N.S.W., 
GERMANY. AUSTRALIA. 

Stalag 383 
21 
Geprűft 

18th June, 1944. 

My dearest Mac - 
Seems a lot longer than a week since last I wrote - altho'
it really isn't. How are you darling? And how's the mail
situation? There still isn't any more from you, since the
last big batch I received a few weeks back. I wish, dear,
that they would hurry on their way. But I promise
not to worry (much) if there should be a hold up in
the mail from now onwards, because the way things are
moving on the other side; anything is to be expected. Only
I hope you'll be alright darling. I can do without your letters
Mac, so long as believed you to be safe. So please don't take
any risks. We had a good old yarn by the fire on Wednesday
night last, when I went out to see your people. We swapped
news and talked about you and speculated as to when you
would be home. We reckoned around Christmas - what do
you say to that? Only this time, I'm not banking on
anything - merely hoping and praying it will be so. For
it's been so long Mac sweet. My days and nights are very
ordinary. Work takes up most of my time and I like it that

way best, for time goes so much faster while working. It's
getting very cold here now - although you would probably think
that funny, after the winters you have been through. Last
night Mum & Dad & Harold and I went over to play
cards with Elva and Sam. It was a good evening - I lost
not a penny either. Poor old Harold lost his pennies though.
You know I feel kinda sorry for him Mac. He wanders
around all day like a lost sheep so Mum tells me. Most
of his pals are away still and it's no fun going places alone.
(You just ask me - I know!) There hasn't been any more
news of my cousin Jack - seems pretty hopeless I fear.
Id' better stop moaning in your ear darling - you'll be thinking
I'm a regular old "whiner". I had another very interesting chat
with a repatriated P.O.W., and this time it was really
enlightening and reassuring. But heck darling - no matter
how well you were being treated I would still want you back
here 'cause I'm sure I could look after you better and, besides,
I miss you Mac. From a purely selfish point of view I want 
you back home. That's love - tain't nothing can be done 
about it. Well Mac, there's really no news (still). Everyone
at home is well, both at our place and at yours. So don't
go worrying about us over here. Just look after yourself for
me, Mac and always remember - I love you dear. Until
this time next week then - big cheerio - and oh -- would
you give that message to that special Sgt. o'mine - tell
him he's awfully sweet & his girl is waiting for him. 
All my Love Dorothy

[*3 Opened by Censor*] 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
PRISONER OF WAR POST SYDNEY AIRMAIL 
8 11 - AM Stalag 383 
21 JUN 8 21 
1944 Geprűft 
N.S.W. AUST 

NX11067, SGT. MALCOLM WILLIAM KESHAM, 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR: 3768 (1747), 
STALAG 383, 
GERMANY. 
3 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
283] 
18th June 44 
198

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

KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST. 
PRISONER OF WAR POST. 
NX11067, 
SGT. MALCOLM WILLIAM KESHAM, 
AUSTRALIAN PRISONER OF WAR 3768 (1747), 
STALAG 383, 
GERMANY. 

AIR MAIL 

MISS D. WILLIAMS
37 BYRNES STREET,
BEXLEY. N.S.W.
AUSTRALIA. 

Stalag 383 
21 
Geprűft

My dearest Mac,
Because to-day is your birthday, there is an extra ache of 
loneliness in my heart - perhaps because I can not even guess 
what you're doing to-day, and because I can't be with you. At 
work this morning we had quite some celebrating to do. Young Val, 
our messenger boy, one of the nurses and a girl friend, Margaret, all 
had birthdays. But for me, to-day was your day. Darling I hope 
it was a nice day. Things are now going so well - I'll bet it was 
the brightest birthday you've had for some time. Are you well 
my Mac? I hope so. The sun is so warm and bright outside 
that it is very hard to realize there is a war going on. I reckon 
we'll I never know how very lucky we are. Well sweet, almost 
another week gone - to where? Looking back it doesn't seem that I 
have done a blessed thing! Physical culture on Tuesday night 
and a show at Carlton on Monday, when I saw "So Proudly we Hail" 
and "Slightly Dangerous", were my only outings. I've been concentrating 
my energies making a blue jumper, with little [[Tyrolean?]] figures 
knitted into a yoke. I must try to get a snap taken of it - its 
kinda cute. At work they thought it awfully pretty. But heck, 
darling; it's no fun dressing up these days. At my job I have 
to look nice, of course, but I mean, with nowhere special to go, well 
it kinda takes the glow off things. Yes I know, trust me to think 
of something trivial like that. Mac - it's little trivialities like 
that, added to-gether, one by one they add up to all the aching 
hearts and lonlieness. Do you remember how I wrote you, long

ago, about the sudden longing and envy I used to get, coming 
home at night from a picture show or a dance & seeing a girl 
clinging onto "her boy's" arm. In those days I often cried my 
way up the hill towards home; although I don't think I would 
have told you. I don't cry now - somehow a person gets tired 
of tears and self-pity. The loneliness, however, has never gone, and 
it won't either, until you come home and take me in your arms. 
It's not long now Mac darling! And in the mean time there's 
plenty of work - and dreams to dream. Haven't been having 
any more mail for a couple of weeks - I wish I could get some. 
Writing this this letter to you is rather difficult, for Daddie has the 
radio blaring out a regime of some football match. Do you 
still play foota darling, or is it too hot for it now? It's kinda 
hard figuring out the seasons over there - I always go & forget they're 
opposite to ours. You know Mac, it will probably be terribly 
funny when we get down to discussing various things. We'll find 
that one of us had taken an entirely wrong version of things 
we've written one time or another. You see if we don't! Mac, I'm 
sorry I haven't been able to send you any snaps lately, but its 
hard to get the films at times. I keep trying though you must have 
enough to fill an album by this. By the way Mac, any snaps 
that you might have will be more than welcome - don't forget! 
Looks like another finish coming up, sweetheart. Take good care 
of yourself Mac dear and keep smiling. Mum and Dad send their 
kindest regards and hope it won't be long [[ere?]] you're home. They must 
have caught that hope from that daughter of theirs. Lots of times 
Mac she's an awful mutt - but she's so much in love with 
you, that maybe you won't mind eh? All my Love, Dorothy 

[*3 Opened by Censor*] 
PRISONER OF WAR POST 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST SYDNEY Stalag 383 
BY AIR MAIL 9 11 AM 9 21 
PAR AVION 26 JUN Geprűft 
1944 
N.S.W. AUST. 

Rank NX11067. Sgt. 
Name Malcolm William Kesham, 
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768. (1747) 
Camp STALAG 383, 
Country of Internment: GERMANY 
198 
24th June 1944 

3 
PASSED 
BY 
CENSOR 
172

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