D -66

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Monday 7^th January

8.45 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Back again on night duty, which has only one thing to commend it, that I can get down to a spot of letter writing in earnest.  I reckon DV that I have only 1 more Sunday duty to do and 5 more night duties, possibly only 4!  I was thrilled this morning when your Thursday letter was put on my table – I, too, have suffered the worst-ever bouts of 9 Vint Crescent sickness since Monday night, fortified though by the great thought that were I not being demobbed in March we could say ‘half way to our next leave’ – that is a most comforting thought, but it was your sweetness when I was back and the 1001 joys of living with you in the flat that have produced my present feeling of acute desire to be with you.  I just can’t start to tell you how desperately much I miss you and all the little things we do together and enjoy together which go to making up our ‘modus vivandi’.

I’m sorry the Wicked Lady was disappointing – we did well to see the Seventh Veil and I honestly think it was one of the best films I’ve seen.  Many thanks for paying the electric light bill and t’other items have been noted in my new red book – your green ‘un will be ‘on its way’ shortly.  Whilst on the sordid subject of money could you complete the following transactions (noted only in pencil in the aforesaid red book!)

(a) take £25 out of my Barclay’s a/c and pay same you’re your own ‘gratuity’ PO a/c

(b) take £25 out of my Barclay’s a/c and pay same into your own Barclay’s a/c

The proceeds of the sale of the piano will then be properly regularised.

Not having taken any very violent exercise for some 3 weeks I’ve been feeling a bit stiff today after yesterday’s exertions and have now got my snout well and truly back to the grindstone again – today has been a non-stop one and I can’t honestly see it abating much until my successor puts in an appearance – that won’t be for some time though I’m afraid.

I’ve got a very busy week ahead of me and most of my evenings are taken up with one thing or another – tomorrow night sees me playing my first table tennis match for the Corps HQ team – it is a very ‘needle’ game v 1 Corps Sigs as both teams are undefeated in the League and the last encounter ended in a draw 3-3.  Each player plays one best-of-5 games match and I sincerely hope I play no 6 in our team!  On Wednesday night Freddie Self is coming in to have dinner with me – the purpose being to discuss the meeting at BAOR HQ which he attended in my absence.  Thursday is a free evening and on Friday there is another Table Tennis match in the inter branch League.  Still the busier one can be, the quicker the time goes and that is all that matters between now and March.  It is now 9.15 and a week ago today we were just arriving at the Club and one of the best-ever dances was about to begin.  You will have to give me some lessons when I get back, I should like at least to be able to dance passably well.  Dearest heart, though I could go on writing to you until ‘les vaches marchant chez elles’ there is little of interest left to write about – Don’t be surprised if a Colonel Bright-Holmes rings up to find out Jean Stevens phone number – I gave him Jean’s message, he is Peter’s God Father, and he returned today to take up a job as a Brigadier in Eastern Command and is very anxious to see Jean and John, not knowing their number or address I said that if you were asked you would give him the necessary information – the number is in the front of the local phone directory.  He is an extremely charming man – At 10 ocl Ted Worsdell is coming in for a cupper and a chat, since he came back with me from leave he has had to work ‘til all hours of the night and is even more browned off than I am, if that’s possible!  What about your week-end in Town with Joan or a visit by her to the flat, it would do you a power of good to get away for a few days or to have her down?  Well, darling, I must say goodnight to you – it won’t be long now, wonderful girl, before you ever will have to occupy our home alone again.  God bless you, and keep you always – my love, every little bit of it, is yours and only yours, and it will be

            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 8 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 7 Jan.