D -43

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 30^th January

10 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I’m actually up at Bad Oeynhausen, but not having written last night felt I must pen a few lines to you and hope that there is a post from the Mess in the morning.  After a very hectic morning I left Isulohn at 3 pm picked up Freddy Self and another bod at Soest and arrived up here at 7.30 pm to find most of the other members of the team assembled here and having very much of a ‘pre-tour party’!  We have just come back from the ‘21’ Club and I’m now smoking my 10^th and last cigarette of the day.  F. Self is sharing a room with me and is fast asleep.  I was delighted this a.m. to receive your Friday letter and to hear, inter alia, about Bill and Dorothy’s supper with you, and the prospect of a Lois (thawed out!) visit to you the following evening.  Many thanks for your letter, darling.  We leave hear by cars at 9 ocl tomorrow morning and should arrive at The Hagueround about6 or 7pm – it promises to be an excellent tour and I’m much looking forward to it.  After a very busy day yesterday in the office I set sail for Witten at 6.30 and was at Peter Royle’s Mess at 7.20.  After an excellent dinner of soup, hare and real cream sweet, we settled down to a really terrific natter and it was 10.30 and time for me to be returning before I knew it.  I learnt many interesting things about the 17^th between the time I left them and the Victory March through Tunis in which the 17^th took a prominent part.  I didn’t get back ‘til 11.30 and was so tired that I just dropped into bed and was asleep in no time.  Darling, in just on 6 weeks now I shall be putting in the most historic phone call ever and there is no thought in all the world which gives me such a thrill as that.  It is all getting so wonderfully close now, and when next I’m back to the old office on Tuesday the days will be numbered in the 30’s – throughout the next 5 days you will be, as always, so very constantly in my thoughts, and I will write to you just whenever I can, and am I longing for my return and the little ‘pile’ of letters waiting for me, yessir!  Angel one, I must into bed now and to sleep, and must say goodnight and God bless you for always – you are forever in my heart and I love you more than I can ever tell you in words – may my dreams be just of you, all you.  ALL my love, dearest heart, is yours, and yours alone.

            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 830 dated 31 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 30 Jan.