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.

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.

D -57

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 16 Jan 46

6.45 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I had a very hectic day both yesterday and today in the work line, so I left the office reasonably early tonight and thought I would get down to a letter to you before dinner and resume again afterwards.  I haven’t heard from you since Monday so I expect tomorrow with bring forth a letter or letters from you, they have rather taken to arriving in pairs recently.  The reason I had more to do than usual these last two days was that Leonard Olney was away at the Skiing Centre and I had to play all his courses queries – a job which grows daily instead of diminishing.  We had got a game of mixed hockey arranged for this afternoon but the ground is absolutely frozen solid and it had to be called off.  It is bitterly cold here and I’m afraid we are in for a wallop of snow at any minute – as long as the boilers are OK in the Mess I can’t say I mind it very much as my room keeps beautifully warm, but if the boilers go, brrrr, it makes me shiver just to think of it!

The garage situation is now all fixed up – last night I sent of a cheque for £1=17=4 being payment up ‘til 13 Feb and I wrote to Barclay’s instructing them to add 15/2 to the monthly payment making £8=2=0 per month in all.  Lumm, my batman, has just brought in my hot water so I suppose I must get down to a good wash and then away to dinner, after the which I’ll be right back, darling one with thee. ARYCP.

I’ve just finished a rather scruffy dinner which on paper doesn’t sound too bad, soup, meat and veg, choc pudding, but I would rather have on ‘tray’ supper of yours than 100 of our mess efforts.

I had a long talk with John Stevens on the phone this morning, he got back yesterday and honestly our conversation might have been recorded for a comedy show.  He is going up to Hamburg for a few days at the week-end and is calling in here for a cupper on his way through on Saturday morning – every time I said ‘well John, I’ll see you on Saturday’ with a this-is-the- end-of-the-conversation tone of voice he said ‘oh! ’Peter’ – ‘yes’ from me – pause ‘oh! Peter jolly good show you’re your being out in March, and I say Eileen did look nice at our children’s party’ etc etc!  I nearly had hysterics!

I had a most pleasant surprise visit yesterday afternoon – the ‘first’ of the ‘few’ of my old 17^th Field Regt friends I’ve met since I left them, apart from Ian.  I don’t think you remember him very well as he was in Peter Pettit’s Battery up in Scotland and didn’t join 10 Battery until we were in N. Africa – he replaced Roy Oddie as B Troop commander – a very nice chap by name Peter Royle.  He was in here visiting another branch and saw my name on the door – you could have knocked me over wiv a feaver when he walked in – apparently he was wounded in Sicily and came back to England, he is now commanding a Battery (he was still a Lieutenant ‘til quite recently) not far from here.  He is coming over to have dinner with me on Friday night and I’m looking forward to having all the gen on the 17^th after I left it.  Darling one, a couple of things before I forget and which I know you won’t but thought I’d mention (if you see what I mean), (a) my 3 pairs of flannel trousers to Thomas’ for pressing and (b) a trip to ******** re the cloth for those two suits of mine, he only has another 8 weeks in which to remove his digit! Though I shan’t be suit less as I shall have, all being well, a magnificent pinstripe in which to disport myself.

I did a quiet 1½ hours study last night – I find it quite interesting but it is too early to say whether the knowledge gained is ‘sticking’ – one won’t really be able to tell properly until one has had a week or two at Gibson’s which reminds me that I must write and ask them for details of my course, days, hours etc – It will all seem just like a dream, the hours I spend with you like a wonderful dream always, when I get back home for good – it hardly seems possible that in 8 weeks time, after all these years, I become just plain Mr. Benham again.  Now, my angel, with the watchword ‘press on regardless’ ringing in my ears, I must away.  Thank goodness I can now say ‘this time a fortnight ago’ and think myself at home in so doing – 1/5^th of the time has gone by already – whoopee!  Dearest girl, God bless and keep you always, I love you so terribly terribly much and always will, 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 17 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 16 Jan.

D -59

Chad picture with Wot!  In the fifties?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Monday 14^th January

7.15 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Just a quick 15 minutes before I must go down to dinner with 4 others who – with yours truly will be sitting down afterwards to a short (I hope) poker session.  My first game for simply ages.  I was absolutely thrilled this morning when two wizard letters arrived from you – written on Wednesday and Thursday – poor old darling, I can well imagine your general can’t-settle-down-to-anything mood – to have to live alone in the flat after that fortnight of heaven, must be perfectly bloody – but it isn’t for long now and you will, I hope, never again have to be there all by yourself.  Many thanks for sending Kens letter on – as a Lt Col I can quite imagine his getting that fantastic sum a month – he gets staff pay, tropical allowance, field allowance, wife and two children, so I’m not altogether surprised, it soon mounts up, as the actress said to the Bishop.  I have duly noted the payment of £29/10/- for chest-of-drawers and your green ‘un will be with you any time now.  Now, my darling, with the humblest possible apologies I must break away, but I’ll be right back with you ere long.  Au revoir, angel.

11.15 pm       I announced my intention before we started of stopping at 11 ocl (they still had 5) and at 11 ocl exactly I stopped – the first hour saw me getting no good cards at all, but for the last hour I could hardly put a foot wrong, only on very average hands, and I eventually won 15/6^d – not too bad.  I felt a slight closet stopping when I was up but I had announced my intention of packing in, win or lose, at a certain time, and having done that it is no good either way to go on beyond the limit.

Darling I was sorry though not surprised to hear that it had appeared again – if it hadn’t it couldn’t really have come at a worse time, so in many ways it is a good thing, but what you will not realise is that there is nothing wrong in that respect with either you or I – if April 1^st 44 had never happened I might conceivably have been tempted to lose faith, I very much doubt it though, but after that it is absolutely 100% sure proof that what has happened can happen, and will happen again, there are so very many factors involved, and if all the circumstances are right then the answer will be what happened then, and you will not get those factors automatically on leaves etc.  you see, your argument breaks down at once when you say that nothing happened for two years when it might have done, but when did you have that operation in Edinburgh?  Not until just before I went to Africa, and it’s efficacy was well proved by later events, showing quite clearly that it did the trick – no, darling, I can’t agree with you on that score, and I would only ask you to search your heart and ask yourself whether the words you used that ‘children aren’t worth the trouble etc’ didn’t come from your head and not from your heart.  I know you well enough, darling, to know that they weren’t true and never will be.  Now, my most dearly beloved girl, with the thought of you and that historic telephone call in only 50 odd days time, uppermost in my thoughts, with your happiness come what may, my only concern, I must away to bed.  God bless you, my sweetheart, and keep you, just as you are, always – I love you so terribly terribly much, and will

            for always 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 115 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham. 

On front of envelope 14 Jan.

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 13^th January

My dearest Maz

I have two most welcome letters to thank you for this week and also Picture Post and Illustrated.  Many thanks.   I should love to have seen John Stevens as the Fairy God Father at the party and can just imagine his look of slight bewilderment.  The items listed by John Van Dyke are short throughout the world and if anyone could produce a couple of hundred cycle tyres in Holland now, he would make a fortune!  Our tour in Holland is scheduled for 31 Jan to 4 Feb but whether (a) it will come off or (b) I am asked to play, remains to be seen – If I do go on it there may well be an opportunity of visiting Apeldoorn.  It has been very mild here most of the week but there have been some terrific gales.  The week seems to have gone by fairly quickly and the main reason has been that I’ve had plenty to do to keep me busy in the office and have had some function or other most evenings during the week, including two most successful Table Tennis matches.  Tuesday was really the big night, when the undefeated Corps HQ team met the other team undefeated in the League, 1 Corps Signals.  The first match had ended in a draw 3-3 some 3 weeks ago, so it wasn’t surprising that about 100 spectators rolled up to the YMCA to watch the fun – I played no 5 and we played in the order 1, 3, 5, 2, 4 and 6.  When my turn came to play the score was 1-1 and the excitement was running high!  I lost the first game but won the next three fairly easily to put our side in the lead 2-1.  There was terrific handshaking etc after each game – true table tennis style!!  With the last game to play we led 3-2 and our no 6 gave us a win, result 4-2 in our favour.  The other match was on Friday night when G Branch played and beat 8-2 the Pay boys who hadn’t been beaten – for an inter branch game it was very good value and I think, despite two lost matches over Christmas, we can win that league as well.  Monday evening saw yours truly as duty officer and on Wednesday I had Freddy Self over to dinner with the primary object of discussing the hockey meeting at BAOR HQ which he attended for me.  We had a very cheery evening.  Yesterday I went to see the first film since my return, National Velvet, not a very good story but good colour and good acting.  I have nothing at all fixed for today – I had breakfast in bed at 9.30, up at 10 and it’s now nearly 11.30 and I must nip up to the office to see if there is any mail and generally what’s happening.  For the rest of the day my programme is letter writing and reading of me law book, then very early to bed.  I will continue after lunch.

Later.  Have just had tea and didn’t do all the things I had planned for this afternoon by a long chalk.  I did 40 minutes reading on my bed and must have fallen into a very sound sleep as the next thing I knew was Dick Jesson coming in to announce the time as 4.30 and time for tea.  After lunch there was a most extraordinary blizzard – it only lasted about 20 minutes, long enough for it to settle though and everywhere is white now.  You really are a brick to look after Eileen so well, she loves coming round and it makes just all the difference for her.  I am counting the days before my return for good in March, working on March 14^th as the magic date and it is only 60 days off now, just over 8 weeks – it seems hardly possible after so long in the Army and it will all seem very strange at first.  All being well John will be a civilian again by now and I shall be very interested to hear the latest form on demob suitings etc and how he takes to ‘learning’ and his Gibson’s course.  I have a nasty feeling that by the time I pass through the demob ‘sausage’ machine they will have run out of suits etc, but I may be wrong!  Now, Maz dear, I must try and make up a little of the time I lost by sleeping this afternoon.  Here’s hoping that the next 8 weeks just flash past – much love to you and to Pari and Elli.

            Yours as ever

very affectionately

                        Peter

P.S.  Sorry to see that the Us got beaten yesterday – I’m sure they didn’t lack Pari’s support.

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

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

On front of envelope Written Jan 13^th 1946 rec Jan 17^th 1946 (3)

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.