D -54

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Saturday 19^th January

8 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I had meant to write to you last night but the unexpected, in the form of John Stephens turned up so I had well and truly had it.  I had to be out most of yesterday morning and the whole time I kept saying to myself ‘there just must be a letter from Eileen today’ and my eye went straight to my desk when I got back, to alight on a fat and exciting looking letter from you – it was your letter written on Monday, many thanks for it, a letter written but once, read through many times.  Yes I should think your efforts after oxtail, beans and sprouts must have been worthy of your best – I’m very glad I wasn’t in the immediate vicinity – grey pinstripes may shortly become a ‘uniform’ but I’d rather that than an office boy’s royal blue affair.

It was odd that once again our letters crossed, this time on the subject of Mary Baker’s efforts – I usually have a squint in the Telegraph for anything interesting in that line but missed the bus completely on that occasion.

I also found a note on my table when I got back yesterday morning to the effect that a Lt Col Stephens was arriving for a conference at 5.30 and would I have dinner with him in the Visitor’s Mess where he was staying the night – it couldn’t really have been a worse evening as I had a dinner ‘date’ already with Peter Royle, but I changed my table booking at the officers’ club from 2 to 3.  Peter duly arrived just after 6 and we went down to the mess where I changed and we had a wash following by the odd drink or two here.  I phoned the Visitors Mess but there was no sign of John so I told them to tell him (a) to meet me at the Club as soon as he arrived and (b) to bring his kit with him as he would be spending the night in C Mess!  No sign of him by 7.45 at the Club, so Peter and I got cracking into the hors d’oeuvres – we had only been eating for a couple of minutes when John arrived, very hot and bothered ‘oh I say Peter I really am most terribly sorry, now do carry on, but really I am sorry etc!  He and Peter were both in terrific form and we sat in the Club, smoking, nattering and drinking ‘til nearly 11 when we came back to the Mess for a nightcap, after which Peter had to be on his way back to Dortmund.  As Dick Jesson went off on leave yesterday, John had his room – ‘oh I say Peter this really is most kind of you how is Eileen etc’.  He came into my room and we talked hard till well past midnight, yours and Jean’s ears must have been burnt to cinders! And so to bed.  We had breakfast together this morning and parted – John to Hamburg for the weekend and myself to that delightful place, my office.  Our hockey this afternoon was yet another game with the word cancelled written across it, on account as before of the frozen ground.  Yesterday and today can only be described as lovely, bitterly cold and clear blue sky, but not of much value to the likes of me, too cold and frozen for any outdoor sport, no snow for skiing and no opportunity to get out in the fresh air.  I have been kept very busy today and have to spend all tomorrow and tomorrow night in the office for what will be my last Sunday duty officer in the Army – I hope.

This morning I was once more filled with fresh heart by your Tuesday letter – You were very wise not to go nap on the desk, it didn’t sound at all suitable from your description of it, it will be interesting to see how much it fetched.  You certainly had a rum evening going through your old diaries, but, my angel, I’m afraid I’m not very well up in these matters and can’t quite see what it all proves or disproves, when I get home you must give me a discourse on the subject.  You say you feel ‘hopelessly unsettled’, I feel exactly the same and just can’t get down to a thing, try as I do.  This evening I got back to the Mess just after 6 ocl, picked up my Law book, couldn’t concentrate, tried to start a letter to you but again couldn’t concentrate, and finally had a bath, a very early dinner by myself, and afterwards a drink with Ted who I found in the bar feeling just as bloody as I did!  I had got this far when my room was completely invaded and I was inveigled into a short sharp game of 21 – we were all drinking orange squash and played for 10 beans for 6^d – but despite the small stakes I won 7/-!  Just couldn’t do a thing wrong.  Now it is getting on for 11 ocl (no, I am not going to read any law tonight!) and as there will be no lie-in for me tomorrow morning my thoughts turn inevitably towards bed, gloomy, cold and lonely without you – though it isn’t for much longer now – so my dearest, most wonderful wife, I will bid you goodnight and au revoir until tomorrow – God bless you, sweetest heart, and keep you.  ALL my love is 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 21 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 19 Jan.