Letters between Malcolm William Keshan and Dorothy Williams, July-December 1944 - Part 6 of 14

Kriegsgefangenenlager
Datum: 8th Sept 1944.
Dear Dot, Well young lady just in case my last letter goes astray, all the very
best for your 22nd, and I think you can rest assured that your next will be
our's Dot. I hope my judgement is a bit better this time than it was last.
I don’t think I was very successful then, was I, a little late still better late
than never so they say. I don’t think there is anything new to tell you
Dot, everything is much the same, we had our first touch of cold
weather yesterday. Ridiculous isn’t it talking about the weather. Cheerio Mac.
 

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Postkarte 
Luftpost par avion 
15.9.44.-11 
UBER NORD AMERIKA
Stalag 383 
13 
Geprűft
Postkarte
Miss D. Williams
37 Byrnes Street 
Empfangsort: Bexley 
Strae: N.S.W. 
Land: AUSTRALIA 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.
Gebűhrenfreil
Absender: 
Vor- und Zuname: 
Malcolm William Keshan 
Gefangenennummer: 3768 (1747) 
Lager - Bezeichnung: 
M.-Stammlager 383 
Deutschland (Allemagne)

KRIESSGEFANGENENPOST 
PRISONER OF WAR POST 
NX11067,
Australian Prisoner of War 3768, (1747) 
SGT MALCOLM W. KESHAM, 
STALAG 383, 
GERMANY.
  
MISS D. WILLIAMS
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY, N.S.W.,
AUSTRALIA.
  
10th September, 1944
  
My Dearest Mac,
Hullo there ~ how’s my favourite Sgt. these days? I wonder
what you’re doing with yourself - how you are - I wish I
only knew sweet. To-day, for me, has been very busy. All day
(ever since eleven, I mean - when I crawled out of bed) I have
been sewing on my bridesmaid frock. It's a hectic business when
I begin to sew darling - be warned ahead! Daddie always
threatenes to leave home for about a week until it's all over
bar the shouting. So far though, things have been going
fairly smoothly - so here's hoping.  Maybe when Im' making
a dress you had better keep well away - or do you reckon
you will be able to stand it? Never can tell - perhaps you will
have a good soothing effect on me darling. Oh Mac, Mac, Mac -
when will you be coming home? I know it won't be very long
now, but gee, Id' like to know when. Are you going to send me a
cable when you reach England? Do. Then I'll know what is
doing and have all that much longer in which to try and calm
down. That's a laugh though - me being calm at any such a
time. Remember hearing me speak of Margaret, my girl-friend
at work? Or rather - reading of her in my letters? Blow me
if she hasn't gone and got herself engaged! It was a big

surprise to everyone, although she has been going out with this
American Lieutenant for some months past. He's a nice quiet
chap, and she wants to live in America, besides, Mac, I don't know
how these girls can go away from Australia, do you? It would
be alright to go on a visit, but I would be wanting to run
home quickly to my family and all my friends. Im' what they
call a 'dinkum Aussie' I guess. Anyway, to me, there is no
place like Australia. There is absolutely no news to tell of - nothing 
startling, I mean. Were' expecting George home on leave within
a month or so, and of course Norma is very pleased - as are
we all. Oh - I had a visit from Betty last Monday &
again yesterday afternoon. I just love that madcap of a girl
- she's such a sincere, funny girl. Does a lot of bush-walking
and is now secretary of the Rambler's Club at the Y.M.C.A. We got
to talking about all these engagements - about you - the war -
you know the way we two can ramble on. It was about
12 midnight before she finally "tore" herself away so that
Daddie could walk home with her. In the end, I had my
hair pinned up and was in bed talking to her. We three
will have some fun when you come home - Betty & I are
bound to talk your head off, darling. That will be after
we've had all our evenings - just we two to-gether. Cross your
fingers & hope it won't be long sweet. Take good care of
yourself m'love and rememember now - no horse play!
Kindest regards from all the family and once again
from this Williams' gal - All My Love - Dorothy

IEGSGEFANGENENPOST
ISONER OF WAR POST
SYDNEY 
AIR MAIL. 
3  'PM 
15 SEP
1944
N.S.W.AUST. 

NX 11067,
Sgt. Malcolm William KESHAM,
Australian Prisoner of War 3768   (1747), 
STALAG 383,
GERMANY.  
  
3  
PASSED  
BY  
CENSOR  
356 
  
3 Opened by Censor 
Stalag 383. 21 Geprűft
10th Sept 44 
198

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

Dearest Dot,                       12th Sept 1944
Well and how is everything going these days, mail turning up ok and plenty  
of fine weather and swimming etc, Im hoping I will be swimming with you next 
summer Dot, you never can tell you know, it must finish some time, so keep the 
old fingers crossed and wish hard darling. I have been a bit worried lately Dot I rem- 
ember you saying once that you were not going to get married before you were 
28 I hope you have changed your mind darling. I don't mind waiting Dot; but thats 
a long time, still it wouldn't be so bad if I knew everything would work out right in 
the end, but I dont, all I can do is hope that seems to be all I ever do. It seems a long 
time since I last heard from you Dot, twice as long as it actually is which is almost 
a month I certainly miss those letters still thats not surprising seeing how much 
I look forward to receiving them. I only hope you get as much pleasure out of 
mine as I do from your's, though I can't see how you could possibly do that, Im 
sorry I cant make them more interesting Dot, but I cant write what Im thinking 
or I would just write three little word over and over, something like the Broken Record 
besides you know I love you without me telling you, whether you realise just 
how much Im not sure, but its as much as I possibly could darling and in case  
you don't know it thats a lot believe me. I try not to express my feelings in these letters 
darling because I cant make them sound, or I should say read as I feel they should 
they are just something that cant really be put on paper, there is only one way I can 
make you understand how deep they are, and thats to tell you myself, I know  
I could make you understand darling, or maybe you do as it is, I only wish I had 
told you how I felt before I left, still its to late to be sorry now, besides that was nothing 
compared to now. Once again its Cheerio for the present All my love Mac.

Kriegsgefangenenpost 
Luftpost par avion 
15.9.44.-11 

An Miss D. Williams
37 Byrnes Street 
Empfangsort: Bexley 
Strasse: Sydney 
Kreis: N.S.W. 
Land: AUSTRALIA 
Landesteil (Provinz usw.) 
  
2 OPENED BY CENSOR 

Gebűhrenfreil 

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

KRIEGSGEFANDENENPOST 
PRISONER OF WAR POST     
NX11067, 
Sgt. Malcolm W. Kesham, 
Australian Prisoner of War 3768, (1747) 
Stalag 383, 
Germany.   
AIR MAIL. 

MISS D. WILLIAMS,
37 Byrnes Street,
BEXLEY, N.S.W.,
AUSTRALIS. 
17th September, 1944 
  
Stalag 383.  
21  
Geprűft 
  
Hullo darling. 
Me again - how are you Mac dear? You know - Im' 
always ready to write your letter Sunday nights, but to-night I 
couldn't get away from all the hustle and bustle of wedding 
preparations quickly enough. No, there's no startling news to tell 
of - writing to you is such a peaceful way of spending time 
and darling, after to-days' sewing, its more than welcome - 
this "write - to - Mac" hour I usually have. It has been rather 
an exciting week Mac. Remember in my last letter I mentioned 
Margaret had become engaged? Sweet - she is now an old married 
woman of just three days. It was certainly sudden, but I am past 
surprising these days - that's happening everyday almost. Then 
my girl friend Mavis (you met her Mac) became engaged Monday 
also - kinda unexpected too. Ho hum - 's a great life. Had such 
a nice luncheon date last Wednesday dear - none other than your 
young brother. He rang me first of all & gee it was nice to 
hear his voice again. Guess where we went to lunch, sweet? 
Remember the Tehy Tavern? There was a third person there 
with us Mac - for me anyway. He had brown eyes - dear, 
dark brown eyes, and a devilish teasing grin. He didn't

say a word throughout the whole meal, but it seemed he was 
smiling - and occasionally giving me a kick under the table just 
to remind me he was there. I never had been able to even enter 
that little restaurant without seeing this person as he looked 
the first day I ever ate there - with him. Having his brother 
there opposite though - made it seem as though you dearest were 
sharing in our laughter and conversation. So you see - you're 
miles away, many miles, but you're ever in my thoughts, and your 
love and mine is such a very warm thing. However, it was a very 
enjoyable lunch-hour I spent with Norm & I was sorry that 
I had to race back to work again at 2pm. He's a nice kid 
(but don't tell him I called him a kid whatever you do) & you're 
going to find such a terrific difference in him when you 
meet again. Gee Mac I had a lovely time last night at a dance 
at the YMCA with Betty. It was raining cats & dogs but Betty, 
ardent hiker that she is, went along on this week-end hike after 
the dance. This little woman went - straight home to bed & 
thanked providence I wasn't an ardent hiker! Betty and a 
friend of hers have just left now - after helping Norma (with 
suggestions) to level off my frock. Theyre' crazy! But nice. Well 
darling, next time I write to you Jocelyn's wedding will be 
over and done with and life will have fallen once more into 
its usual routine - and my stomach settled down after all the 
blessed excitement of it all. And next time I write, too, will 
mean one more week nearer to our re-union my darling. So its 
until next week then Mac. Remember something? I love you dear. 
Dorothy