D -37

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Tuesday 5^th  February

6.30 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I have so much to write to you about that I hardly know where to begin – my various doings since I wrote to you on Sunday morning, my arrival back here rather late yesterday evening and my joy at finding your letters waiting for me in my office.  To take things in their proper order – after a very good lunch on Sunday we went over to a ground some 10 miles out of The Hague and there played our final match in the pouring rain and high wind.  We were very keen on winning our last game and after a goal-less first half, we all went flat out and won 5-1, of which my contribution was 3, to conclude the playing side of our tour – Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, goals for 11 goals against 8 – not at all a bad effort all things, especially our lack of training, being considered.  After the game the Batavarien Club gave us an excellent dinner in The Hague followed by a very boisterous dance (I played ping pong in a slightly drunken stupor most of the time!) and it was a very weary but sobered up Peter who crawled into bed at 1 am on Monday.  I was so physically tired and mentally fresh that I just couldn’t get to sleep, and like you the other night, pitched and tossed for ages before I became unconscious.   3 of us set off for home yesterday morning at 10.30 and after a very good run we fetched up at Bad Oeynhausen at 6 ocl.  My car didn’t arrive ‘til 6.45 and was only going on about one cylinder – it took 3½ hours to get back, but eventually we did and 10.15 saw me in the office eagerly gathering up my letters from you.  When I got back to the Mess I had some sandwiches and tea, unpacked, climbed into bed and joy of joys, settled down to read 3 letters from you, written on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday – many thanks, little letter writing hero.  I just lapped up and re-read every word of all of them – I hope Joan’s stay was a great success and that your throat is not too sore.  I like the sound of the bureaux – but if they don’t seem too good and you don’t get one or both, don’t worry, we shall find something in time and in the meanwhile I can always make do with a table.  Noel Coward’s film ‘Brief Encounter’ sounds excellent and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it – we will see it together somewhere if you don’t mind going again – I doubt whether it will come out here.  No, you hadn’t told me about John Smith not going back to the Law, I suppose he is wise and I’ve no doubt he will do very well with his Father in Law – I hope you manage to steer clear of the flu bug – on a raw carrot diet you will soon be disgustingly fit and make me look the colour of this paper!  I’m none too well myself tonight – one of the chaps in our car yesterday had flu I think and it will be a miracle if I don’t get it as well – I feel a bit like it but am gargling hard and hoping for the best!  Also, damn and blast it, that wretched pile of mine has reared its ugly head again – thank God its an external performer, I’ve got some stuff for it, and I know just where to put it!!  Tonight I’m playing in a very key table tennis match G v Q (Movements) in the knock out comp – they are rather hot and we shall do well to win – I shall come straight back to bed when it is all over – I had a very busy day in the office though I found it very hard to get down to it after 5 really good days away.  I saw Martin Buck this evening and my successor arrives on March 4^th, so in less than a month’s time I shall be so thrilled at the thought of arriving home that it won’t be true, it’s bad enough now.  I’m hoping, DV, to leave here on the 12^th (5 weeks today!) and be with you on the 14^th) it is just the most wonderful thought in the world.  Group 24 now goes out on the 14^th instead of the 18^th, so they may bring our date forward to the 10^th – how wizard if they do.  Tomorrow I’m on duty so I shall be writing from the office.  My only mail today was from Mrs Wilson which I am enclosing.  I hope soon to be able to let her have the exact date on which we shall be arriving – as a matter of a fact I did tell her the dates in my letter, though said they might be subject to a last minute alteration.  Isn’t it a heavenly thought, two weeks of sheer heaven with you, away from everyone and everything, free to do as we please and after it no good-byes, no trains to see off etc.  oh! angel I long for it all so terribly much, all of it with you, my dearest wife.  God bless and keep her always, I’m loving her so terribly much and will for ever and always – all my love is yours, until demain, au revoir,

            Yours, only 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 734 dated 6 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 5 Feb.