D -60

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 13^th January

6.10 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I seem to have wasted an awful lot of time today, but being a Sunday I’ve enjoyed it!  I didn’t get up until 10 ocl having had me breakfast brought up to me at 9.30, and after writing my Sunday usual to Lois I walked briskly up to the office just to see if any post had arrived – it had, but nowt for me – I pottered about up there until 12.30 doing a few useful odd jobs and so back to the mess for lunch.  I had worked out a very slick programme between 2.30 and 6.30 – 40 minutes reading me law book, 40 minutes on a novel, 40 winks, tea and 5 – 6.30 writing letters – but did I stick to it?  No maam – I did the 40 minutes law book reading – then after 5 minutes on the novel fell fast asleep and didn’t know anything ‘til Dick put his head round the door and announced that it was 4.30 and high time I was up and having a cupper.  I found that the Sunday papers had arrived and got so engrossed with a few fruity stories in the News of the World that I didn’t realise how the time was slipping by – anyway I dragged myself away from the story of the Naval Officer and the Usherette at 5.30 and so up to my room – as the lighting in hear is none too good I have been searching for a couple of bulbs to put in the chandelier – my dear, it’s an enormous one!  When they were in position I decided to bring the writing table from my anti room in here also an arm chair, and now I’m well and truly installed in my bed-sitting-room!  I had to cancel our hockey yesterday on account of the weather, it just poured with rain all day – Having put off a pleasant supper at the Officers’ Club on account of my ‘date’ with Ted at the films.  I was extremely narked when he phoned me up at 6.45 to say he couldn’t get away from the office etc etc – The last thing I wanted to do was to sit about in the Mess, so I had an early dinner as planned and went to see National Velvet by myself.  It wasn’t a bad film I thought, a very poor story, but quite well acted and the colour was good.  I met another chap from the Mess there and after the show we went to the Bowler Hat Club for a quick glass of beer.  It was the first time I had been there and I was agreeably surprised – very quiet and only about a dozen or so officers there – I’ve asked for a bath at 6.30 and it’s just about that now so I must leave you pro tem, I must give my hair a good washing too, it’s absolutely foul, and hasn’t been washed for ages!

8.30 pm.

I had an excellent bath but oh! what wouldn’t I have given to have been taking it in the green-semi-sunken one with that wonderful girl leaning over the side rinsing my hair with the sprinkler – instead of that I had it in an old tin affair, poor light and no lovely back washer.  Just as soon as anything definite comes through about my date of release we must go right ahead and plan that holiday of ours – nothing in this world will stop us from going up to Scotland – but I think it will have to be at least a fortnight after I get home on account of suits etc – which would mean, planning on D day being the 20^th March going up there on about Wed 3^rd April and getting back on 17^th April – Easter together and then down to work on 23^rd April which would give me a solid fortnight in the office before my Gibson & Weldon course starts – I could also do an hour or twos reading just to break myself in in easy stages between D day and April 3^rd – I’m afraid my London visits will rather preclude a holiday during the summer but the 5 week break before I start in earnest will be a wonderful substitute – let me know what you think of the idea.  It will really be our second honeymoon, our trip to Scotland – in many ways it will be our first – before all the sorrows and anguish of parting, destinations and future unknown were ahead of us and though we never talked about it, the shadows were for ever there – it was very mush ‘eat drink and be merry etc’ wasn’t it?  we must never cease to be grateful for the very great blessings we have been given, that we have both emerged from 6 years of war, unscathed physically and mentally, and our philosophy throughout the years ahead, come what may, must be remembrance of how lucky we’ve been – we will have the most wonderful time ever in Scotland.  Colchester, all our ties and obligations, housework, law work, all work can go by the board for what will be our first carefree holiday together.  There would be no joy of anticipation, no thrill at all were it not that it is with you that I shall be going – it is only because of that that my heart beats faster at the very thought of it.  I wouldn’t be normal if I said that I looked forward to the sweat and grind of the 6 months work for my final – I can truthfully say that I dread and hate the very thought of it, shut away, learning, for hours from the girl I want always to be with, but no-one could have a better incentive to work than I, and how 100% mitigated is my 6months hard labour by the thought that I shall be at our home and that you will be with me, that I shan’t be at it all the time, and, above all else, that there will be no more goodbyes ever.  How drab and colourless and grey life would be were not you with me always – and by you it means not just a wife, but the girl who hasn’t been out of my mind for 6 long years, the most perfect girl in the world – dearest dearest heart I must away now.  I love you, darling, the same as I’ve always loved you, with my whole heart, and I will for always – God bless you, sweetest one, for ever and keep you, yours, more lovingly than I can ever say, for ever and always

                        Peter

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

On front of envelope 13 Jan.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 14 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.