The Bay Museum Committee has decided that, with immediate effect, the Bay Museum will be closed for the months of October, November, December, January and February apart from the first Sunday in each of those months and will reopen on the first Sunday of March. The Bay Museum will be open every Sunday of the other seven months. This year the museum will reopen on the 1st March 2026.
Monthly Archives: February 2026
Letter from Peter C. Benham to his mother.
Major P.C. Benham,
G Branch
HQ 1 Corps District
BAOR
Sunday 3rd February
From The Hague.
My dearest Maz
I know you will excuse this short note from here, but my time is not my own except for the odd hour in the morning but I go back tomorrow to Iserlohn and will write at length as soon as I return. We are an extremely cheery little party – 15 of us and we forgathered on Wednesday evening ay HQ BAOR. They gave us 5 staff cars and all Thursday was spent travelling – through Osnabruck, Enschede, Zutphen, Apeldoorn (I shall stop and see John tomorrow) and Utrecht – we got here at 5.30 pm – the Hotel, our HQ, is very comfortable. On Friday afternoon we played Leiden University and beat them 4-1 afterwards a big dinner and many speeches, and as I am Captain of the team, I had to do my stuff! Yesterday we played the Probable Dutch XI (it was a Trial game for them) and their training and fitness were too much for us and we lost 6-2 – they were extremely good. Afterwards (we played at Amsterdam) we were given a terrific dinner by the Dutch Hockey Asn!! (more speeches) with Union Jacks all over the place. I wasn’t up ‘til 10 am and we play our final game this afternoon v Batavarien which is a travelling club of ex-internationals. It is all great fun and a wonderful change from work! You will have heard from Eileen that they have given me a M.B.E. – it is very gratifying and something to show for the last 18 months sIog – Maz dear I must away until Tuesday when I will write more fully – much love to you and to Pari and Elli.
Yours as ever,
very affectionately
Peter (only next month now!)
Letter Form headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.
Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 376 dated 4 FE 46. Signed P.C. Benham.
On front of envelope Written Feb 3rd 1946 rec Feb 5th 1946 (6)
Letter from Peter C. Benham to his wife.
D -39
Chad picture with ‘Wot! NOT 30s ALREADY?
Major P.C. Benham,
G Branch
HQ 1 Corps District
BAOR
Sunday 3rd February
12.30
My own most precious angel,
I’m afraid this will be rather a short ‘un as I was up very late this morning, and have shortly to go down and join the rest of ‘les boys’ in a pre-lunch glass of beer. It’s another filthy looking day, low grey cloud and pouring with rain, it may clear though before we play our final game at 3 pm against a team which I hope won’t be quite so strong as yesterdays. We left here at 2 ocl and were at Amsterdam at 2.45. There were some 2-300 spectators and the arena was well bedecked with Union Jacks etc. The first 15 minutes were absolutely disastrous and the Dutch XI just walked through us to score 4 quick goals – thereafter we pulled back and they beat us 6-2 in the end, a result which everyone expected. We had a wonderful dinner at the Hotel Victoria given by the Dutch Hockey Assn, union jacks on the table etc, and the menu was, hors d’ oeuvres, soup, steak and veg, ice pudding wine and cigars – several girls were ‘imported’, mostly unattractive and 3 of us left early and went to a sort of night-club by our hotel here were we had a few drinks and so to bed. I read for quite a bit and was asleep by 1 ocl – this morning I had tea and toast in bed and wasn’t up until 10.30! A lot of them are staying here tomorrow, the chief attraction being a dance in the evening but as 2 others have to go back tomorrow, I shall go with them. I’m just longing to get back to that pile of letters which I hope to find and whatever time I get back to Iserlohn I shall make a bee-line for the office. Darling, this is a miserable letter but it comes to you just to let you know that I’m thinking just of you and loving you terribly, terribly much, the more I see of night-clubs and this that and t’other so much the more do I long for the time when you will be with me always. God bless you, dearest heart, and keep you always – I love you so very much and will always be yours for ever
Peter
In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.
Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 375 dated 5 FE 46. Signed P.C. Benham.
On front of envelope 3 Feb.
Letter from Peter C. Benham to his wife.
D -40
Major P.C. Benham,
G Branch
HQ 1 Corps District
BAOR
Saturday 2nd February
11.30 pm.
My own most precious darling,
Yesterday started just like our Sunday in Brussels, pouring rain, low grey sky and a high wind – by lunch-time it had cleared a bit and by 3 ocl when the game started the sun was out! I had a look round the shops in the first part of the morning but, though they looked full, there was absolutely damn all to buy – the only bulbs on sale were crocus and at a ridiculous price – I bought a couple of Vrightlander 120 films and that was the sum total of what I got – there’s no point in paying stupid sums for shoddy articles, don’t you agree? At 11.15 we all forgathered for a cupper cawfee and at 11.30 the civilian party arrived to take us round the Art Gallery and the House of Parliament. The pictures, some hidden some pinched by the Boche but since recovered, were really lovely, and were excellently explained by the Director of the place – Rembrandt, Van Dyke, Jan Steen etc at their best – the most intriguing one was Rembrandt’s large picture of an operation scene. After looking round the seat of Parliament we came back for lunch at 12.45 and set off for Leiden University, some 12 miles from here, at 1.30. The University, the oldest in Holland, is a lovely place with some 3,500 students. It was the only University closed by the Boche, because the students went on strike when the Jewish Principle got the boot. Before a largish crowd we took the field just after 3 and had a very shaky start but Bobby Fawcus (O.U.) kept goal magnificently and we opened the scoring after 20 minutes when yours truly popped one in – we lead 1-0 at half time and then settled down to some really good hockey, fortunately playing down wind! I got a second just after the re-start and we added 2 more before we finished, to beat them 4-1, all very satisfactory. The pace was very hot and they were much fitter than we were, but somehow we just lasted out, though no-one was sorry when the final whistle blew. After tea and beer in the club-house, we returned to the University which we were shown round, and were liberally supplied with Dutch Gin, absolute fire-water. The drivers had returned to The Hague and as I was driving one of the cars I had to go very easy on the liquor. A large gathering sat down to dinner at 7.30 and the courses, fresh herring, soup, fried sole, éclairs, were interspersed with speeches by almost all the Dutchmen, the President of the University sports club, the secretaries of the Dutch Hockey Assoc., the Batavarien Club, and the captain of the other team. I had learnt a short but appropriate bit of Dutch to thank all concerned and it was greeted with hilarious applause and cat-calls. After another tour round the main building and a cup of excellent coffee, we left at 10 ocl and were back here in the Hotel at 10.30 – a glass of ale, a good hot bath and so to bed, feeling a trifle weary but in good spirits. We have all been out to a photographers this morning having a group taken, it should be amusing! The sun is right out now and after lunch we go up to Amsterdam for what will, I think, be our hardest game. I’m afraid this is just a catalogue of events, but I hope not too uninteresting and oh! darling girl how I wish you were here. February already though and next month, oh! joy to think about it. I shall be home for all time – I live for nothing but that, for nothing but life with the dearest sweetest girl alive, for nothing but our love and your happiness – for all those things I long so much, and in only 40 days we shall stand on the very threshold of a new life together for always. God bless and keep you, dearest heart, I can’t tell you how much I love you, it is beyond words, it is just so very, very much. All my love to you and may the next 40 days just flash past. Au revoir for now
Yours and 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 376 dated 4 FE 46. Signed P.C. Benham.
On front of envelope 2 Feb.
South African Infantry.
Cachet of 1st Infantry Brigade South African E.F. No. 01/3/2
1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters,
S.A.O.E.F.
Mex Camp. ALEXANDRIA
February 2, 1916
Lieut-Colonel Purcell, D.S.O.
Depot Battalion, South African Contingent,
Bordon, HANTS,
ENGLAND.
With further reference to my letter of the 23rd ultimo, No. O1/3/1, and to your recent telegram regarding Officers asked for by the War Office to accompany reinforcements for the Brigade, the G.O.C. directs me to inform you that he is doing everything in his power to clear up the situation generally with regard to Officers. He further fully realises the conditions with which you are faced and as you know you may rely upon him doing everything possible to assist you. At the same time, to agree to a number of promotions to commissioned rank being made in the Depot Battalion of N.C.O.’s and men now in that Battalion, would mean that men who are now with the Brigade, who have proved themselves well worthy for of commissioned rank, would undoubtedly have a grievance.
The G.O.C. knows that you are as anxious as he is that vacancies in commissioned rank in the Contingent should be filled by those who have best earned promotion to that rank.
J. **** Baker
Major,
Brigade Major.
In On His Majesty’s Service envelope addressed to Lt Col Purcell D.S.O.
Depot Battalion S.A. Infantry, Bordon, Hants England. Postmarked BASE ARMY POST OFFICE Z Dated 2 FE 16. With 1st Infantry Brigade South African E.F. No. stamp and in pencil Official Free signature unreadable.
Wednesday
Feb 2
Dear Alan,
Just to let you know I am still very much alive, and, in the circs, everything all correct. We are still operating in the same region, but we are anticipating much excitement in the near future. Things are beginning to liven up considerably, rumours are as plentiful as French fleas at present, and the atmosphere is quite electrical so to speak, but anyway, everything points to the fact that the long period of waiting is nearing the end. Mrs Leighton tells me that Dick has been home, and that you were able to be there also, which was “tres bon”, as the blighters out here would remark. How is he, and what part of the map does he occupy at present, also what is the nature of his work? I am still on the same old job, and getting busier every day now. Things are alright at home, and my last letter (Jan 17) from Perce, tells me he is quite well, and is still at Hulluch. I guess you are still having a busy time, and no doubt you have not been called up yet, on account of the nature of your work. Is that so? Well Goodbye old chap pro tem, hope you are keeping fit. Kindest regards from, Yours to a cinder, Jim.
In envelope addressed to Mr A. Beesley, 28 Tower Rd, West Hill, Dartford, Kent, England. Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE D.37 dated 3 FE 16. Hexagonal stamp PASSED FIELD CENSOR 82, signed V.A.L. Mallet.
On back of letter “Signed James R. Turner.”
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 