D -63

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 10^th January

9.30 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Being my only ‘free’ evening this week I was very loath to accept a dinner invitation this evening, but I accepted unconditionally, and stipulated that my time for leaving the mess was 9 ocl – I did!  So here I am with the rest of the evening all yours.  This morning another letter arrived from the dearest girl in the world written on Sunday night and with the big news on the back of the arrival of two of my letters on Monday morning – good show.  Brian certainly did forget himself and I’m not surprised that Mayor was somewhat shaken – all very awkward!  You seem to have had a good weekend under the circs and I hope you enjoyed ‘The Valley of Decision’.  I have arranged to see ‘National Velvet’ on Saturday night with Ted – opinions on it are very varied here and I shall be interested to see it – a lot depends on ones mood when seeing these things I think.  I’ve had a very busy day and haven’t stopped at all.  At 1.30 we had a mess meeting at which, in view of the time we’ve all spent on the Mess Committee, we resigned en bloc and I’m now absolved from all responsibility of the mess accounts.  Then at 2.15 I had to dash back to the Barracks to attend a committee meeting of the Tattoo Committee (a big tattoo is being held in our area on about August 7^th!!).

Two slightly brighter snippets of news are that, I think, someone from one of the Brigades has been earmarked as my successor, and I’m just waiting now with baited breath to hear that he has been selected, if this is so I just couldn’t be better as it would remove any slight possibility of my being retained DOV (deferred operationally vital).  The second item I picked up last night when I took Freddie Self down to the Club for a noggin – we were just sipping our liquor when I heard a chap at the bar talking to someone at the bar about the Law Society.  I pricked the old ears up a bit and eventually found out that he was almost in the exact position vis a vis the law as I am – TA and due to take his Final in Nov 39.  To cut a long story he wrote to the Law Society a week or so back and told them in no uncertain terms to pull the old digits out so far as Articled Clerks were concerned and asked them how the hell he was expected to live while taking his final course etc.  much to his surprise he got a letter back saying that he could claim a Government Post-War Aid Grant to see him through his studies and until he passed his Final.  I have got hold of the bumph today and as far as I can make out I should get a grant of about £6 per week until my final is over.  I need hardly add that a letter to the right authorities in my next no 1 priority.  I will keep you well informed as to the results – so things look fairly bright and it is now only 9 weeks to go before, all being well the most historic phone call ever is put through to 2019.  Darling, I can think of nothing but that day and it is getting excitingly close now – now my darling I must get right down, to drafting a suitable letter about this grant business – only, though, after telling you that to me you are the most wonderful girl in the world and that I love you desperately much and long only for March and with it our D day and the dawn of all we’ve longed for and dreamed about.  God bless you, my own terribly dearly beloved, now and always.  Yours for ever and always with ALL my love,

                        Peter

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

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 11 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 10 Jan.