D -67

Chad image plus Wot! only

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

6.15 pm.  Sunday 6^th January 46

My own most dearly beloved,

I got a colossal thrill this morning when I went up to the office and found 2 letters waiting for me on my table.  I read them and re-read them very greedily – you are an angel to have written on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Yes I’m afraid the flat with only the smell of its male occupant will be rather a lonely place these next two months, but your books and a trip or two up to Town and the search for a bureau and for desk will help to pass the time.  I see in yesterday’s paper that officers in Group 25 are due to start being demobbed on 14^th March which is my new target date for D day as I have reason to believe, as I told you on Friday, that it may be a week or so earlier.  Only 67 days, darling!  Demob is, needless to say, the main topic of conversation here, but I have also investigated in a very minor way the Honours List and I’m told that no-one out here will be appearing in it and that our list which is due to be issued shortly will be an entirely separate one for ‘services in New Europe’.  I had quite a busy day yesterday in the office though I’m finding it very difficult to work up any real enthusiasm for work and I’m only one of many who are in a similar frame of mind.  Much against my will I felt rather obliged to go to a Defence Company party last night, but I felt I had to as the new OC had made a special point of asking me.  I found several chaps leaving at 11.30 so I tagged along with them as I was feeling a bit weary.  I stayed in bed until 9.15 this a.m. and before going up to the office wrote to Fenn Wright’s about the garage, Dick Porter about our subs and the Law Society giving notice of my intention to take the Final in November.  So that got several useful letters away.  I went up to the office at 11.15 and frigged about until lunch-time.  This afternoon I had arranged a friendly match against the local hospital but owing to demob and leave etc I couldn’t  get a very good team together – we lost 2-1, on a very slippery ground.  It was rock hard yesterday but today has been  degrees milder and has seen a good thaw out.

Yes darling I did bring the pyjamas back with me; as a matter of a fact I didn’t really realise it until I got to Dover that night, I think I must have put them in the spare room after making (?) the bed that morning with a view to my packing them – I had everything on the bed ready to pack in the morning.  I can’t remember anything other than the writing paper which you were going to send me – writing paper is a bit on the necessary side as this is literally the last ¼ of my last block.  I shall be most interested to hear how the children’s party went off, I hope John wasn’t too absent minded and didn’t ask the boys if theirs was beer a gin.  The dance at the Club really was an excellent show, wasn’t it?  I loved every second of it and reckon we must make it into an annual event.  In that Paul Jones, when I came opposite you I got just the thrill out of it that I got 10 or 11 years ago and I reckon its not every husband who could say the same thing in all honesty – but with you it couldn’t be otherwise, it will NEVER be anyhow else.  One thing I’m afraid which is rather on my conscience is the very stupid thing I told you on our way round to Oxford Road on Christmas morning about my wishing I hadn’t come back for Christmas – it was honestly NOT meant and I just can’t think why I ever said it.  I loved our Christmas and the New Year.  I could have wished and did wish that we could have got out of certain things, but the ‘pull’ was too great and one can’t suddenly drop things which one has done all ones life in that sort of line, but next year we will certainly cut out the tea party for a start, if not some of the others.  I wonder if the old so and so has appealed yet, I’m afraid it probably has but, talking slightly in riddles, if the start had been like the end, I would very much have had me doots, that is why, darling, I am certain when we are living our normal life things really will happen in a big way – this leave business is no good for that sort of thing unless cries etc are just right and they never have been since 1 April 44.  Oh! darling it won’t be long now before  March is with us, the most memorable month we will ever know.  I just can’t get over the flat, and what you have made of it, I shan’t get over it until I’m back again and even then it will be a fascination to me for always.  To think of living there with you, without thoughts of leaves or listening for ‘extra’ days, there with just you always, our ‘tray’ meals and the countless blessings of one’s own home, fills me with ecstasies of delight – how 100% worth while to forfeit pro tem the luxury of cheap cigarettes etc and a large wage, for the joys of no separation with you to help and encourage and make happy – bash on March.  Dearest Eileen, I adore you, love you and live only for you, and think of no-one, nothing, but you.  God bless you, my own sweet heart, and keep you always.  It won’t be long now,

            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 7 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 6 Jan

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