Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 5^th December

8.15 pm.

My own most precious darling,

It’s been an absolute freezer today, snow of the non settling variety has been falling all day, and the central heating in the mess would have to pack up today of all days – Dick has an electric fire in his room and as he is out this evening Ted Wordell and I have moved in and are now busily engaged on our several occupations – he is working whereas my task is a hundred percent pleasure.  The wireless is going very softly in the background so the stage is set for a pleasant evening.  I had such a wizard letter from you this morning, written on Saturday and Sunday – many thanks, darling.  So old Aunt Jane has appeared at last.  I am no great mathematician but I should have said that my arrival on 16^th, 17^th or 18^th might be an event which could have far reaching repercussions – time will tell.  As you so rightly say wooden legs seem to be no obstacle – hadn’t Man Friday got one or was it Long John Silver?  Perhaps you can’t see the connection!  Sorry, now it’s me wots being coarse.  To hear from your own mouth that you are really getting slimmer means a whole lot – but, darling, please don’t get too thin.  I will give you my unbiased opinion when I see you.  I was delighted to hear that the chest of drawers has actually been delivered, very quick work.  I’m longing to see it.

I’ve had another rather ‘messy’ day though I’ve shifted quite a lot of work, ‘messy’ in that I still find it rather hard to settle down to anything.  I have had to cancel our hockey game on Thursday (tomorrow I should say) – the other side couldn’t raise a team, and I wasn’t finding it any too easy myself – probably just as well in view of our two games over the weekend, and on Friday night G Branch plays it’s first game in the inter branch league.  I had a eventful time getting back to the mess this evening – I just missed the 6.35 bus (it left 2 or 3 minutes early) and the one I did catch at 6.45 broke down after going 200 yards.  They put us into the next one to leave, but it was one which goes right round the town and it was 7.15 before I got back to the mess!  I hear that it has now been announced in the papers that all BAOR wallahs who go on leave between 13 – 23 Dec will get 3 extra days in England, so it means 15 days in all!  If I arrive on Sunday 16^th I shall have to be back at Victoria on 30^th, provided there are no postponements – only 10 more whole days to the 16^th and I can think of nothing else, hence, I think, my being unable to settle down to anything in the work line.  I really must put in a few early nights between now and the time I come home, ‘do’ I shall resemble a piece of half chewed rag by them – I think I will start off tonight so will be closing, I only hope this snow doesn’t settle yet awhile, I’ve a horrid feeling that when tomorrow dawns everything will be quite white, so my angel, as the warmest place is bed, I will hie me off there at the double.  God bless you, little one, and keep you – I love you, dearest heart, just terribly much and am longing to see you, roll on Sunday week – ALL my love is yours, only yours, and I’m always thinking of you

            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 5 DE 45.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 5 Dec.

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