Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 3^rd 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 3^rd 1946 rec Feb 5^th 1946 (6)