Major P.C. Benham
G Branch
HQ I Brit Corps
B.L.A..
Wednesday 16 May 45
I am enclosing a snap which someone took the other day – not too bad, is it?
My dearest Maz,
I have 2 wizard letters for which to thank you – I simply loved hearing all your V news, celebrations, services etc, I had a very cheery letter from Pari today in which he told me of the Victory Parade, and the part you took in it – I should love to have seen you, dressed only in a CD armband – you know what I mean!, marching in 4s with the other hospital regulars! Your letters, of the 8th and 11th were most interesting. I honestly don’t think at this stage it would be advisable to send the Van Dykes any food, but in about a month’s time it would be OK, addressed to the Bank – it is the TWENTESCHE BANK, APPELDOORN – and marked with those famous last words ‘Medical supplies’!
Yesterday, to my great delight, the tin arrived – the cake was duly started at 11 am today and it is a real beauty – thank you ‘ever so much’ – it’s one of the very best. On Monday a DF consignment of tobacco arrived, also most gratefully received and Argosy and Picture Post – what a hero you (and Pari for the wizard baccy) are. My main excitement since I last wrote was the trip down to Brussels on Saturday. I left here at 8.15 am and was in the Avenue Louise at 1.15 pm where I found Germaine, her husband and Maurice in great form and a chicken lunch (cold) waiting for me. It was, so was Sunday, one of the hottest days I’ve ever known. Maurice and I did battle after lunch and after a shaky start I did 4 threes in 6 holes and won the money on the first 9, second 9 and the match! My score of 80 wasn’t bad with a 7 and two 6s in it, and I was well satisfied – no 3 putts and one or two longuns sunk, we played cards after tea and had dinner, an excellent one, on the veranda of the club house, half an hour after dinner on the putting course and we went back to the flat. Maurice and I went round to his house at 11.30 pm after a long chat and the cracking of a special V bottle of champagne. At M’s house we opened a bottle of wine and played a game of Piquet before retiring.
I had to leave at 10 am on Sunday morning and was back here, after a halt on the Meuse at a place called Maeseyck for an ice, at 3.30 pm. It was a wonderful break and did me an absolute power of good. Apart from this life has been very uneventful, busy always, but not quite such late hours at the moment in the office. Tonight I’m going with Charles to see a film – it will be my first for ages.
We are now allowed to say where we are – I’ll give you 3 guesses. You were probably wrong! We are in a little village called RHEDE, between Bocholt and Borken about 20 – 25 miles East of the Rhine. All the civilians have, of course, been turned out of the town and HQ I Corps are the sole occupiers. My journey on Saturday took me through Wezel, completely flattened by our bombers, Venlo, Raermond, Maeseyck and then Diest and Louvain. This is not very exciting country but pleasant, rather flat and very agricultural land.
I heard from Eileen yesterday, her course was nearly over then, and her days now in the WAAF are very much numbered – all being well she should be out by the end of June and I want her to get the little old flat into apple pie order for its most important occupant! For myself I hope perhaps to be out by the end of the year if what the papers say is anything like correct – isn’t it a simply thrilling thought. I’m longing more than ever before to get home again for good. Maz dear, I must nip along to the post. Again many thanks for that wizard cake. I’m simply longing to see you again – much love to Pari and Elli and to yourself.
Yours as ever
very affectionately
Peter
In envelope headed ‘On Active Service’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.
Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 17 MY 45. Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham. Photo enclosed.
On front of envelope Written May 16th 1945 rec May 19th 1945. (19)
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 