D -56

Chad cartoon and Wot! Only 8 weeks?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 17^th January

10 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Today’s post came in, but alas! none for me, so I must now wait patiently for my next letter from you which I hope will be tomorrow.  The most uneventful day ever so far as work is concerned has just gone by and literally the only item of news is the table tennis match we have just played.  It wasn’t a good match, the branch we were playing has a very weak team and we won 8-2, our no 5 losing both his games – it started half an hour earlier than usual so we finished earlier and I made a bee line for the mess, and the comfort and warmth of my own room.  Dick Jesson is off on leave tomorrow, how I wish I was just starting out on that wonderful journey to the best place in the world – HOME but in 8 weeks time I hope I shall be caught up in the cogs of the sausage machine for release, Tournai, Calais, Dover, Northampton then LONDON and no more Army life with all its uncertainties ever again – great show.

It has been a super day here, cloudless sky and very cold – white frost all over the place – I walked up to the office after lunch and got a real glow up – it was just the afternoon for a good walk round the lanes of Higham, a tweedy, pipey, doggy walk!

Any sign of the Baker infant yet?  It would seem to be well overdue if all the calculations were correct.

I must really get down to sending a few things home, books etc otherwise there will be a frantic last minute-rush – first consignment of books will be despatched next week.  I am having a couple of wooden boxes made to send a lot of my clothes etc back in – we are only allowed to travel with one suitcase which is probably just as well!  I shall leave quite a bit of stuff here though, my old and rickety camp bed etc.  One thing I think I shall have to buy as soon as I get home is a bicycle – it will be about my only means of transport as far as I can see!

I’m afraid this letter must have set up a complete record for dullness – I’m really ever so sorry!  It brings with it, though, all my love to you, and may tomorrows post be a real good ‘un.  God bless you, dearest, dearest heart, now and always – only 56 more days, press on!  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 18 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 17 Jan.