D -52

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Monday 21^st January

11 pm.

My own most precious darling,

The hour is rather late but I couldn’t let the day slip past without penning a few lines to you, there was no letter mail today – I think fog must have held the planes up as we have had no papers since Saturday – not a very good omen for tomorrow’s mail.  There was a parcel post though, and I received one of the law books from Brian very quick work – it looks too dull for words, on a subject which gives me no very great enthusiasm to think about – Real Property, but I shall have to get down to it – I didn’t have a very good night last night, whether it was the atmosphere or not I don’t know, but I turned from one side to the other on my camp bed and eventually got to sleep round about 2ish I think.

I didn’t hurry back to the office after breakfast and walked up for the exercise and after lunch walked back again via the hairdresser where I had a kapper which I’m thankful you can’t see, though I think it would be very much to Bill’s liking!  Otherwise I had a very busy day in the office, and didn’t get back to the mess ‘til nearly 7 ocl – work in our branch seems to be on the increase these days – all rather annoying as I do so want to be able to do a bit of reading other than after dinner – I could be like many others who just don’t try now that their demob is imminent, but I ain’t born that way I’m afraid.

After dinner I went to Studio One where I saw a most interesting German film – it was being shown to our censor people prior to it being put on for the civilians.  It was ‘shot’ in 1941 and though I couldn’t follow the speech, I could get the general trend of the thing of course.  The story was about as ‘mushy’ as anything I’ve seen for a long time, but the colour (it was in glorious Agfatone) was far better than Technicolor, and the scenes and music were excellent.  Story in a nutshell was budding young composer and young girl in love, goes of to study somewhere, many love scenes in ‘holidays’ then girl goes up to see him ‘at work’, he is taken by surprise and is well on the job, girl naked and marries oaf in background in early scenes, composer returns via Rome and tries to take girlfriend from husband, husband says OK but girl tres loyal and after much wavering stays, show ends with girl, now in black, meeting composer after big concert and rather tamely I thought agreeing they should see each other about once in a couple of years, both obviously still much in love – stupid I calls it!

Some of the dancing scenes took me back to New Year’s Eve, and that wonderful dance just 3 weeks ago tonight – it seems like 3 years – it made me feel very sentimental to think of and made me yearn the more for March – oh! dearest I miss you terribly much and think always only of you, the next seven weeks just can’t go by too quickly – how like life a Paul Jones is, for some, the chance to get someone different, for me always the longing and hope that it will be you that is nearest me when the music stops, and I will go to any lengths to have it always like that – God bless you, dearest, dearest heart and keep you always, and make the weeks between seem as seconds.  I can’t tell you how much I love you, but you know, it will always be like that, and I shall for ever be yours

            only yours

                        Peter

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

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 22 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 21 Jan.