D -39

Chad picture with ‘Wot! NOT 30s ALREADY?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 3^rd  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.