Hoddom Castle

Tuesday 3 Aug 43

My dearest Maz,

So very many thanks for your letter received today – I was so interested in all your news, especially your description of the day with Eva and the Filbert, I’m sorry the latter was a bit off colour though he never was particularly bright and cheery.  Very nice mind you, but always a trifle dull I thought!

Your meals at the Majorca and the G.E. made me feel very envious!

Nothing of any great excitement has come to pass here since my letter to you written on Sunday – Stan and I had an excellent game at Powfoot that afternoon and when I got back I had a good bath, changed and went along for supper with Robin and his wife – I had a very pleasant evening but was reminded so much of our cottage at Mayfield and Dunkeld that I came away feeling quite homesick.

My eagerly awaited interview with the Colonel duly took place yesterday and I came away feeling more depressed than I have felt for some time – enough of that though!  The C.O. as I had anticipated said he had thought everything over, had had a chat with the CRA about me and they were both of the opinion that I was too young to embark on Staff Training – that he had talked to the CRA about me and had told him that my administrative work was excellent but that my tactical work was ‘short’, presumably meaning short of standard!  That after he has seen very little of my tactical work and after only just over a month ago giving me a special word of praise for the way I had commanded the Regiment that day he and the 2 i/c had been made casualties!  Now we were on the subject he went on he would like to tell me now that he felt that I had been assimilated into the Regiment and had found my feet and could start throwing my weight about and show more ‘binge’(!) (presumably ‘drive’ etc!).

He said he was afraid he had rather depressed me when I had joined the Regiment by his exhortations to me to go slow!  I said not a word, if I had  what I wanted to I should now be Gunner Benham!  I just said ‘Thank you, Sir’ saluted and marched smartly out.  You can imagine my feelings, I won’t dwell upon same!  You wanted an accurate account of the interview, I’ve supplied it almost verbatim.  My only hope now is Ian or an earthquake to wipe out all the Majors in the Regiment.  Nearly a year ago now I was told by Ian and Col Thomas that I could soon expect promotion, now I seem no nearer, and so many who joined up so long after me and who had the pleasure of calling me ‘sir’ are now elevated to high rank!  Prior, who came back with us, came to see me yesterday – he is a major now, having been posted to an Anti Tank Regt (he was in A/Tk) which has just formed another Battery, which he has got!

Maz dear, I know you will excuse this rather tedious account of my ‘fate’ but I shall not let matters drift.

Very much love to you and to Pari and Elli, again many thanks for your letter,

            Yours ever affectionately

            Peter.

In envelope addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked LOCKERBIE DUMFRIESHIRE dated 4 AU 43.   (5)