G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

                                                                                                                   Thursday 11 Oct 45

9.30 pm –

My own most precious darling,

Another letter from you today, you really are a wizard to write so much – I was most interested in your news and to hear of your day at Walton – the old jam store is coming along very nicely, well done!!  Angel, I’m sorry I gave you such scanty particulars about my new job, but there is very little in it – I stay here and am still a G2 in Ops but am responsible not for moves and pure ops as I am now, but for training and all air support matters – I don’t think I shall even have to move my office!  I heard today that my course at Paderborn Training Centre has been postponed until the 12^th November but I shall still do my week’s attachment at 2 Group RAF HQ starting on Monday.  It may involve one flight down to a Wing of theirs in Brussels but believe you me I’m much keener on terra firma than wind – yessir!  Please continue writing to me at the usual address as I shall probably come back on Thursday to pick up mail etc.  You will be pleased to hear that I have acquired a canvas squashy bag – not beautiful to look at but very useful and a good size – I spun a long story to our Ordnance wallahs who control them – taking over G2 Air etc and they gave me a chit for the officers’ shop where I bought one for £1.  They are very difficult to get if you are below the rank of full Colonel so I feel rather pleased with myself.  Before I forget it I must refute a slight slur you cast on me the other day on the subject of hats, green, pork-pie.  No darling, I have never possessed a pork-pie of any hue but you are not far out really as I have a very dignified trilby, green, felt which, purely to cause amusement, has been shaped as a pork-pie but never, to my knowledge, has it been worn as such in public!!

I was very much in the wars this afternoon during our local derby match v Defence Company who brought a large gathering to cheer their team to victory and barrack, in fine soccer style, the opposition.  I was the centre of attraction and there were many raucous cries of ‘bring him down, knock him down’ etc when I got the ball and ‘mark that inside left’ when I hadn’t.  The opposition took the ‘bring him down’ exhortations seriously and twice, once when I was about to flash the ball into the net, I was literally bowled over and am now minus skin on both knees, elbows and right cheek of back-side!  Worse was to come, the right back hit a full blooded lofted drive and yours truly standing 5 yards away received it on the forehead.  By the grace of God it was just above my right eye, and though it broke the skin, might have been much worse and I have an enormous ‘egg’ and the prospect of a super black eye!  I was able to go on playing and much to the barrackers chagrin popped two into the net, we won 4-2 and gave as good as we got in the injuries line.  I also have had a bit of a headache so shan’t be late into bed tonight.  To make up for my being away from the office for a couple of hours this afternoon, I had to put in a spot of overtime and a very busy day found me packing up at 7.15 pm.  Darling, I forgot to mention last night that my parcel was dispatched yesterday evening and sent by registered post so it shouldn’t be long in arriving.  The contents come to you with my love, every little tiny bit of it, and are a little present, part of it, for the 11^th Nov – I doubt whether I shall get another shopping opportunity for a bit.

Trevor is back tomorrow but I have a busy day ahead of me, but his return will make a lot of difference.  Sweetest dearest beloved, I must to bed where I ask just to dream of the sweetest girl who ever breathed, the girl I love with all my heart.  God bless and keep you, little wizard – ALL my love belongs only to you, the key of my heart is yours for always, I’m just LONGING to see you again, living only for that and for our D day, now drawing so close.  Yours, only yours for ever and always

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 12 OC 45.  Signed P.C. Benham.  

On front of envelope 11 Oct.

On the back of the envelope Major P.C. Benham, G Branch, HQ 1 Corps District, BAOR