G Branch

HQ I Brit Corps

B.L.A..

Thursday 24 May 45

My dearest Maz,

            Since my letter to you last Wednesday I’ve had 2 most interesting ones from you, dated 15^th and 18^th, a consignment of DF baccy and a whole host of VE maps.  I was very disappointed not to see your photo in the ECS,I had hoped there might have been an insert of Mrs GCB, ex-Mayoress ‘giving a snappy eyes left in front of the saluting base’!  Many thanks for the Thanksgiving Service Pamphlet, a good souvenir.  What very tough luck on Louisa catching the scarlet fever, I hope, as Elli would say, it doesn’t leave any ill effects.

I don’t know whether your weather has been like ours this last week – cold and very Aprilified – some terrific thunderstorms, long periods of sun and terrific rains.  Without  any exaggeration I haven’t been further than 200 yds of my mess or office this passed week and have had little or no time in which to relax, read or write.  Another G3 arrived yesterday which will be a help, he is the first of the 3 who we are short of (if you see what I mean!) – all work and no exercise make Pete a dull boy and that’s just how I feel now – still it can’t go on at this pitch for much longer – I hope.

I had a very nice letter from Bill the other day but in it he imparted the news that Eileen and I had got to be out of the flat by 24^th June.  My first reaction was one of absolute fury at old man Pawsey but there is obviously nothing one can do about it and there is no doubt that now the danger is past it won’t matter a tuppeny damn whether one was away from home and all that means during the war or whether one was a ‘conchie’ – but it did strike me as being a bit early for that sort of thing – but on second thoughts I rather agree with Eileen that it was a bit too small, not much because wherever we live of necessity it must be small, still it was small and there were those absolutely frightful specimens of humanity (?) overhead, real shockers.  For so long my dreams of the future had rather centred round the flat and it was always somewhere where we would make a start and I must admit that I’m still a bit peeved about it, more on principle than anything else – wouldn’t you feel the same?

My only diversion from work of any sort has been a trip last night to a special cinema show at 9.30 for the officers, the film room is only 150 yards away so Charles and I decided to go not having the slightest idea what the film was.  It turned out to be some Spanish dame named Carmen Miranda and the title of the film I can’t even remember – any film however bad would have been enjoyable and we had a few good laughs, the news was good and so was the cartoon.  Most of the laughter during the big film came in places where we weren’t meant to laugh and vice versa.  Maz dear, I must slip back to the office just to see if there is anything needing attention and then I’m aiming at an early night.  So very many thanks for the baccy, those excellent mags and your letters – I’m longing to see you again and hope it may be soon.  My love Pari and Elli – much love

            Yours as ever

very affectionately

                        Peter

P.S.  My writing paper getting very low and I should be most grateful if you could send me a ‘tablet’!  P

In envelope headed ‘On Active Service’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 25 MY 45.  Passed by censor No 15487 and signed P.C. Benham.          

On front of envelope Written May 24^th 1945 rec May 28^th  1945.        (20)