Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 9^th December

6.15 pm.

My own most precious darling,

My trip up to the office this afternoon did not go unrewarded for there was your Wednesday letter waiting for me – many thanks, you wonderful letter writer.  I laughed a whole lot at your description of the plumbing incident.  I’m sure that Scott’s embarrassment must at least have been equal to yours – they can hardly be mistaken for anything else though can they?!  Yes. I’ve had quite enough of Princess Elizabeth, I honestly couldn’t care less how she spends her time, every time one opens a paper nowadays there are pictures of her in it.

Yesterday and today have been even colder than ever and both our hockey games had to be cancelled, the ground is as hard as iron.  Every time I want to spend 1^d, I have to go in armed with a ‘winkling pin’ for assistance it’s that cold.  I did nothing very interesting yesterday, and after dinner spent an hour listening to a lecture on the theory of skiing, we have a couple of experts in the Mess and both Dick and I have decided to have a go at it – we did, this morning!  It was great fun and not really so tricky as I had expected.  We went out to some slopes about 5 miles from here and there was just enough snow on the ground to make it worth while.  My first run was just what you would expect and caused considerable merriment and I had to disentangle skis from round the back of my neck several times but after the initial go I went sailing away down the hill and had no more falls – I was extremely careful though as I had no intention of twisting or breaking anything just before my leave is due – it was great fun though.  I see in today’s papers that officers demob is to be speeded, so the inside information I gave you some weeks back was well founded.  They haven’t announced the dates for Group 25 but I gather I should actually be out by mid March, isn’t that a terrific thought, so when we say au revoir at the beginning of 1946 it will only be for the comparatively short period of 10 weeks (2½ months) – super show.  I spent most of this afternoon in the office and had an early tea.  I’ve got a bath laid on for 6.45 and after supper several of us are going to see a film which I’m told is good called ‘Song to Remember’ – Merle Oberon and Frederick March are the two stars – all about one of Chopin’s songs.  All being well ‘this time next week’ every minute will bring me nearer to you and my excitement, pretty acute already, will be reaching a new record ‘high’.  I must away now, angel, to my bath but I will be right back again with you after the film.  Au revoir for now, wiz.

Later 11 pm.  I had a super bath, a rotten cold supper in our unheated dining room and then off to the Theatre, but though we got there at 7.40 we found a ‘House Full’ notice up and made a bee line for the cinema where we got in with no difficulty, and saw a very amusing film called ‘The affairs of Susan’ – Joan Fontaine and George Brent – it was well worth seeing, and the cinema was beautifully warm, one of the chief reasons why we went!  I’ve just had one cup of coffee and jolly good it was too – I feel very tired tonight and I can’t believe it will keep me awake, but time will tell!  I think when I’m back a few good early nights will be indicated, except for our dance evenings – I honestly feel more in need of this leave than any other, I can’t think why, it must be old age creeping on!  Well my darling I must to bed, it’s terribly cold there to start with but I go through the same pantomime each night – I pull all the bed clothes over my head, get a good fug going then gradually poke my head out, very gradually too!  It will be wizard to have a little warm bod alonger mine again!  God bless you, dearest, and keep you – this next week just can’t go too quickly.  ALL my love  is yours and my thoughts are for ever with you, longing for Monday or Tuesday week.  Yours and yours alone with my whole heart

            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 10 DE 45.  Signed P.C. Benham.  

On front of envelope 9 Dec.

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