New address                                                         c/o Mrs (I will let you know name later!)

at/ 18, Lockerby Road

Dumfries, Scotland.

Thursday 23 Sepr 43

My dearest Maz,

This is just a rather hasty note to let you know my new address and tell you briefly what little I’ve been able to find out today.  The CO who told me what I passed on to you last night was talking absolute nonsense as per usual.  The reason I had to come in here was that the Div Staff were on an exercise lasting from midday today until midday Sunday and I had to come in and hold the fort while that were away, hence I’ve had a fairly hectic day and am in a slight state of mental bewilderment at the moment and shall soon retire to bed in this quite comfortable private billet which I’m in.  I’m not at H.Q. R.A. as I’d hoped and been told by the CO but at Div H.Q. and as they will be short handed for a month or two I, together with a couple of others, have been called in to help them out after which time I go back to the 7^th (I’m not posted here) so as I see it, unless something extraordinary happens I don’t stand to gain much from it – I may in this time miss a Bty and when I return I have to pick up the threads of my job all over again – I’m so bewildered at the moment that I can’t really form a clear picture of what the true position is – I suppose as I’ve now been doing since April I must just go on hoping for the best!!  My hockey on Saturday is now off, of course, but I hope to meet Stan after tea in here.

As everyone was rushing about when I got here this morning I didn’t consider it was expedient to mention leave, on their return I will do so and let you know if there are any alterations.  Maz dear, I must to bed – love to you and Pari and Elli, so longing to see you again,

            Yours ever affectionately

                        Peter

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

Postmarked ANNAN DUMFRIESHIRE dated 22 SP 43.          (13)