Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, July-December 1944 - Part 1 of 14

KRIEGSGEFANGENEN POST. 
PRISONER OF WAR POST. 
NX11067, 
SGT. KESHAM, M.W., 
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 
  
2nd July, 1944. 
My Dearest Mac, 
Another week has come and gone and once more I'm  
here for a yarn awhile. How are you sweet? Haven't 
had any mail yet, so I don't actually know. I hope  
everything is alright with you, and that you're still  
dazzling them all with that smile of yours. I remember,  
its an extra nice smile- so keep on using it, darling. 
Well, anyway, here I am Mac - sitting up in bed as I write this 
(that accounts for my writing being more of a scribble than ever). 
It is warmer here, and quiet, and I can think my thoughts of  
you, as I write. Darling, I'm afraid my letters must be a disapp 
-ointment to you at times.  Mac - don't ever get so mixed up, so  
as to forget how much I love you - will you promise me that  
much? I don't give you very much to go on - I know. I suppose  
if I had any sense I would write and say "Mac, give me a  
good beating first, will you, and then marry me"? You  
should know how lonely it is by yourself - and I say "by  
yourself" meaning being alone, even in the middle of the crowd.  
Gee Mac, how well I remember the way I used to dress up  
to go somewhere - work, or meeting you in town somewhere.

It was always such fun Mac - having someone to dress up  
for. As easily as can be, I can remember the night I wore  
my grey jumper and skirt, on the last night we went to the  
pictures to-gether. Why it was even a thrill when you helped  
me off with my coat and smiled. Mac- am I mad? No, not  
really. It's just that I can't explain how I feel.  It all ends  
up to missing you so very much, and all the little precious  
moments we shared.  But darling, it will be all worth the  
waiting, so please - be patient. It won't be very much  
longer now - in fact, its becoming so good, the news, that 
I lie in bed and hold my breath - wondering "maybe  
this coming Christmas I'll have Mac home again with 
me". Don't be downhearted at this stage darling. Tuck  
under your pillow at night, my love for you, and it 
might bring you sweet dreams. I wish my dreams would  
bring me you - I want you home so much Mac. Well sweet,  
its been such a boisterous evening! We had my cousin & his 
wife here, & Glen from the Valley (Joe's brother) as well as  
Norma, and Harold from across the road. Everyone has been  
tearing around the carpet, yelling like mad. Crazy people 
you'd say, and you'd be pretty right. Say - would you mind 
having crazy in-laws, darling? 'Til next week (hope I'll have 
had some mail in the meantime) big Cheerio and to you - All my  
Love Dorothy 

RISONER OF WAR POST 
RIDGSGEFANGENENPOST 
  
BY AIR MAIL                                                                                    
PAR AVION                                                                                      
  
SYDNEY 
10 [?]AM 
8 8 JLY 8 
1944 
N.S.W. AUST. 
  
Stalag 383 
21 
Gepfruft 
  
3 Opened by Censor 
  
PASSED 
BY CENSOR 
253 
  
[[Ra?]]nk  NX11067, Sgt.                                                                      
[[Na?]]me  KESHAM, MALCOLM W.,                                               
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 (1747),                       
[[Ca?]]mp        STALAG 383                                                                          . 
[[Co?]]untry of Internment  GERMANY.                           . 
  
198 
2nd July 44. 

From Miss D. WILLIAMS,  
37 Byrnes Street,  
BEXLEY N. S. W. 
AUSTRALIA                                                                  
  
3 Opened by Censor

Dearest Dot,      2nd July 1944 
Things are not going to good Dot I'm a week late with this letter. I have tried to  
write it several times only every time I started thinking about your last letter or I  
should say a part in it, and Im afraid I didn't feel the best far from it. I did ask you  
not to mention those people you know, still it doesn't matter. I had another letter 
from you yesterday 30th April. That was a lovely photo darling and just at the  
right time my only wish is that I could get one with each letter, you don't want 
to worry about your hair being messed up. Dot I love you just as much or 
even more no matter how it is. I most certainly wouldn't mind you read- 
ing your letters over my shoulder darling except for a few like the last you  
might not be to pleased then at the comments. You ask me do I realize  
how much you have grown. Well darling that's not so easy to answer  
once I would have said yes, but you have me that way that Im not to 
sure of anything, except my love for you. As for that little phrase you 
put in Dot, you can fill the letter with it if you like because I most cert- 
ainly like to see it and I know you wouldn't say it if you didnt mean it.  
Darling you have got to try to understand me if I had the space I know I could 
make you but I haven't; I'm not just being unreasonable, if you could see  
whats happening every day all round me, well it's a long story that has to wait 
but you know exactly how I feel darling and you can rest assured that I  
wont change unless its to learn to love you more but I don't think I could  
do that any more than I do already. Its here again, give my best wishes 
to all, and dont worry about me, Im in the best of health, and only waiting  
for our day when we can forget all these silly little things. Cheerio Love Mac 

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Luftpost 
par avion 
  
-7.7.44.-11 
  
2 
OPENED BY CENSOR 
  
An Miss D. Williams  
37 Byrnes Street  
Empfangsort: Bexley  
Strasse: Sydney  
Kreis: N. S. W.  
Land: AUSTRALIA                                                 
freil 
Landestell (Provinz usw,) 
  
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: Malcolm William Kesham 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager-Bezeichnunug: M-Stammlager 383 
  
Deutschland (Allemagne) 
  
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 
Gepruft 

9th July, 1944. 
My Dearest Mac,   
Writing this letter is not going to be easy. I don't know quite how,  
but I have to tell you a few things, and in such a manner that will 
clear up this barrier that is growing up between us. If it were another 
person, or even if it made sense, then I wouldn't bother - but you 
matter very much to me Mac, and to me anyhow, it is worthwhile.  
Firstly, I want you to answer this- why do you think I have waited  
almost four years for you Mac? It had nothing to do with being patriotic  
or feeling sorry for you 'cause you were away. Love can't be measured  
out that way. Perhaps I don't know what you're going through over there 
I have read the loneliness in your letters and I have imagined the 
hardships you've had to endure, and I realise it's probably twice as bad 
as I could possibly imagine. But Mac - why do you say it would 
probably be better for me if I were to forget all about you? Have you 
read into my letters something that has made you think I don't care 
any longer? It was my fault in the beginning for even using that  
blessed word "honey". I'll guarantee you won't find it in any more  
of my letters from now on. And please Mac - don't spoil your letters 
by being sarcastic - they are so few and so short as it is, & every line  
is precious. Three letters came yesterday, and, as it happened, I  
opened the last one first. That one spoiled for me, the other two.  
Ah darling - don't you see - in telling you about things I do, I'm 
only trying to share any pleasures with you. These boys are only  
4

visitors - they couldn't ever take your place. You'll just have to  
believe me Mac - I'm doing all I know possible to keep your love 
and your faith in me, but you too must do your share in this our 
love. It's two sided Mac. John Wayne happens to be a movie star who 
was passing through - I mentioned him as I thought it might interest 
you. As for "the crowd at work" - they consist of girls, as well as 
boys, and as often as not it's the girls I'm referring to. Don't you 
see Mac - it doesn't matter that you have made me blue, for that 
doesn't count. But I won't have you thinking things that may ruin our 
happiness which is to come. As for their succeeding where you failed, 
well that my sweet, is silly. You know I wasn't allowed out very  
much when you were home - gosh Mac I was a bit of a kid, have  
you forgotten? True, I've grown up now, but I haven't changed so 
much in lots of ideas. You will have to find that out for yourself  
when you come home. I'll try, Mac, with my letters, to keep  
you from worrying; but you must snap out of these thoughts my  
darling - for it won't help you. Please don't misunderstand this 
letter Mac - don't get mad at me; I'm only trying to keep us together 
because we've come this far to-gether and now I won't have a  
stupid mistake on my part - writing the wrong thing - coming between  
us. I love you Mac - won't you believe that? Gosh darling how 
can I tell you more plainly than that? Write soon Mac and  
tell me its alright. Suppose this is a fine sort of a letter to write 
to you, but I had to say what I think - Forgive me Mac for 
I don't mean to hurt you darling. Until next week, when I shall 
answer your other two letters. Once again - all my Love, Dorothy.

PRISONER OF WAR POST 
KRIEGSGEFANGENENPOST 
  
BY AIR MAIL 
PAR AVION 
  
SYDNEY 
11 AM 
8 10 JLY 8 
1944 
N.S.W. AUST 
  
Stalag 383 
21 
Gepraft 
  
Rank: Sgt. (NX11067)          198 
Name MALCOLM WILLIAM KESHAM, 
Australian Prisoner of War No. 3768 (1747) 
Camp STALAG 383.            9th July 44  
Country of Internment GERMANY. 
  
3 Opened by Censor

From Miss D WILLIAMS, 
37 Byrnes Street,  
BEXLEY. N.S.W. 
AUSTRALIA 
  
3 Opened by Censor