D -35

Chad image Wot! Only 5 more weeks?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 7^th  February

10.15 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Today has only had one bright spot in it and that was this evening when I got back to the office at 9 pm to find your Saturday letter sitting right there on my table – I loved, as always, reading all your news and hearing all about Joan’s visit – a very bright idea on your part to get the Dunnant’s round and vice versa.  I was very pleased to hear that the books arrived safely – they didn’t take long, did they?  I will most certainly do all I can to get some more cutlery – I am almost certain to go in that direction before I come home, the only snag now is that for anything in bulk one must get an authority signed by the local Mil Gov people – but I think that can be got over by saying it is for the Mess!  Leave it to me, but don’t expect too much!  In order to enlighten you on the gong ribbon I enclose a small snippet, easier than drawing or trying to describe with any accuracy!  Bill’s letter came today, it was very good of him to write and I must drop him a line to thank him.

I’ve had one of those days when nothing has gone quite according to plan.  I left here at 9.15 and made my appointment right on the dot at 11 ocl.  We tooled out to the range but the most important chap didn’t appear and after hanging about for some time, gave it up.  It was then after 1 and having nothing much to do this p.m. I decided to whip along to his HQ (some 70 miles away) and see him – a RAF type.  I got there at 3 and waited til 4.30 before he appeared – he had gone to the wrong rendezvous!  We did our business and just on 8 ocl I was some 3 miles from home, pouring rain, when we took a wrong turning and the driver backed into a ditch!  Fortunately I got a lift back to camp and then had to hunt round for the ‘recovery’ vehicle and escort him down to the ditched car.  I got back into the Mess for a very late and rather tepid dinner at 9.30!  What a day, and am I tired, I’ll say so.

Ever since I got back on Monday it just hasn’t stopped raining and everywhere is flooded – I gather the Rhine is up to a record height and the bridge has been or is being washed clean away at Cologne.

My ‘doings’ has practically disappeared (no, it’s not that cold here!) and it’s a great relief and I hope I’ve seen the last of it for a long time.

Well, angel, unless I stop now and get to bed I shall just fall asleep as I write.  Roll on March, it just can’t come too quickly and I’m longing for our D day more than ever before and for that heavenly noise of penny insertion into phone box, bon-bon, your wonderful voice and our meeting in London and it’s only 5 more weeks to go.

God bless you, dearest most wonderful girl, 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 9 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 7 Feb.