D -32

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 10^th  February

8.30 pm.

My own most adorable angel,

The mechanism of time seems to be moving a pace, and shortly we shall be half way through February.  January seemed, in many ways, to go so slowly, but the tempo is quickening now, just as my longing to get home to you increases day by day.  Darling I’ve been thinking about your meeting me in London when I get back and what I would like to do would be to spend the night there – a lot depends on what time I get to Town but I imagine it will be round about lunch-time – we could do whatever you like in the afternoon and then, for old time’s sake have a real first class dinner at Simpsons – the next morning we could catch the train to Colchester round about 11 ocl, arriving at 12.30, get Gerald to meet us with Lois and Brian all have lunch at the Red Lion or George, then home, home, my angel for always, tea in front of the fire and a wonderful first evening, the first of so very many, just by ourselves – booking a room in Town might be tricky at short notice but I would ring up or send a wire just as soon as I arrive in UK – pre-paid with reply to you.  Let me know what you think of the idea – but, I most sincerely hope, I shall only have one homecoming from ‘the wars’ and it must be done it Style.

I’ve not over exerted myself today, though I had a solid house-work to do in the office this morning and had to be back there at 2 ocl to sign rather an important letter.  I walked up in the morning and after lunch walked to the Hospital to take a look at our hockey ground – I got back just after 3 ocl and feeling very drowsy layed me doon on my bed with this book on Property but it sent me to sleep just like that and the next thing I knew was that my watch said 4.45.  After tea I read all the ‘dirt’ in the News of the World and then wrote quick letters to Lois, Bill and Aunt Vi before stepping into a good hot bath at 7 ocl.  I noticed to my horror that the old flannel is anything but white and the Persil look you gave it has quite disappeared – I must have it boiled before I let you see it again!  And so, my darling,, here I am, on the eve of the last but three ‘Monday mornings’ which all being well I shall spend on the active list in the Army!  Good show!  Your news about the accommodation problem at the office might have been worse, I shan’t spend much time there until after my exam but if I have to share a room with anyone Gerald is the one I least mind sharing with – he’s not there very much (!) and he more than anyone there will be able to appreciate the rehabilitation problems I shall have for the first few months – and there will be many of those to start with.  The forms from the Law Soc which I wrote for, application forms for the Final, came the other day and the amount of stuff I’m meant to know for the exam is just no one’s business, a list as long as your arm and it filled me with temporary gloom just to read it, I say temporary because though its going to be one helluva sweat, I can do it, of that I’m quite certain – but I do NOT intend to burn the mid-night oil, or to crock myself over it, I’m certain it can be done without that – but in the process it will call for all the patience you can muster, as you will probably hear me reciting all sorts of odd balls while I’m shaving!  The sort of programme I have in mind is work from 9.15 – 7.30 including work on the train and from 9.15 – 10.45 pm but NOT every night, and one must forget the break in August, the exam is on the 4^th, 5^th and 6^th of November, so no matter what happens we shall be able to celebrate our 6^th anniversary in terrific style – by Jove! we will too.  Enough of this exam business, and I must shortly break off to listen to a rather good wireless programme on Dick’s wireless – he is Duty officer tonight.  Darling, I just can’t tell you how I long for March, our March, and today I have realised more forcibly than before how very near it is, and with it my longing for you increases too, how bleak and cold and cheerless the prospect of life without you would be, how very much the reverse it is with you to come back to for ever.  Your happiness my dearest wish, your laughter the sweetest music in the world, our love the richest possession we shall ever have.  And so, dearest heart, I wish you goodnight and for myself I wish just dreams of perfect you.  God bless you, sweet one, I love you so terribly much and for always will be 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 12 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 10 Feb.