D -33

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Saturday 9^th February

10.15 pm.

My own most dearest heart,

The mail is playing very odd tricks these days, and, as with your letters are coming in pairs etc – I had a pair of wizards this morning, after nothing yesterday, and I was so delighted to get them – written Monday and Tuesday and correctly addressed!  You sure are going the pace in the slimming direction – Epsom baths, sulphur tabs etc, but, though I agree the scheme in principle please, darling, whatever you do don’t go making yourself ill.  When I get home I want to see you looking radiantly fit and if your slimming hasn’t borne fruit I couldn’t care less, so, don’t forget, radiant health it must be.  Good news from Smith’s, their figures have certainly been reduced, what! (I hope you are just howling with laughter but, seriously, what an excellent show their being able to make it soon – I like the sound of it a lot and would feel enormously honoured if you came to London in it, plus tight fitting semi-halo hat to match – what sort of blouse goes with it?  I’ve duly noted the telephone account in my red book and have no doubt that the receipt is now in your magnificent box file!  Well done that business like girl.

Since I wrote to you on Thursday night I’ve seen 2 films, one last night at Studio 1 and one this evening at the local Cinema from which I’ve just returned.  At Studio 1 we saw a German film called ‘Munchausen’ all about the old Barron and the fabulous lies he told – it was quite enjoyable but for a film of that type you must be able to understand the dialogue to get the point – I didn’t!  I had previously had dinner at the Visitors Mess with 2 chaps from 2 Group RAF who were over here for the day – and what a day, it just never stopped raining, and I believe the floods round here have to be seen to be believed – any question of hockey today was just laughable and our match arranged for this pm had to be cancelled.  I had a very busy day in the office and wasn’t sorry to leave at 6.15 and to feel that tomorrow is Sunday and I can lie in in the morning, though I’ve at least an hours work to do in the a.m.  Dick J. and I had an earlyish dinner and went along to see Sonja Henje in ‘Its a Pleasure’ – it was rather and very easy to watch.

My whatnot has now completely gone, so has, touching wood any sign of flu, but I’ve got a hell of a cold.  There are a lot of people down with flu and I gather that 3 of our last weeks team are in bed with it!  I only hope it doesn’t come my way.

The Guy Gibson book sounds excellent and I’m looking forward to reading it – the one I have at the moment is really well worth reading if you like Lady E Smith and I can highly recommend it.  I think you would enjoy it.  I have a fairly busy day ahead of me tomorrow, apart from my office work – letters, inter alia, to Bill and Aunt Vi from whom I had a very sweet letter yesterday – she asked me specially to think of Hugh on the 18^th when they are having his memorial service which I’ve no doubt you will be attending.  Then tomorrow I must get down to that dullest of all dull books by Rivington on ‘Property’ – it’s a real and genuine stinker!  I love to hear you talking of spring and longer evenings, it means so much more to us than just the physical happening, doesn’t it?  there is so much of a message in it for us – one which, just the very thought of it, fills me with the wish to sing.  Now, my most wonderful wife, I must say goodnight and au revoir jusqua demain.  God bless you, my angel, for always – I love you terribly, terribly much and long only to be home, really home, with you for ever,

            Yours, only yours,

            So terribly lovingly

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 11FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.    

On front of envelope 9Feb.