D -30

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Tuesday 12^th  February

6.45 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Angel I was so terribly sorry to hear that the flu bug had got you, but more relieved than I can say to hear that you were in capable hands and not having to be ill with no-one to look after you, I hope so much that you are really better now, and to hear in your next letter that you are making a good recovery – please, darling, whatever you do, don’t go out until you are really 100% fit to.  What a complete hero Lois has been, she couldn’t, as you said have been kinder.  I must drop her a line conveying my thanks etc.

I’ve had one hell of a day today, Leonard has been out and the phone just hasn’t stopped ringing and I’ve hardly had time to light even a cigarette!  Ah! Well only 27 more working days, not that if the hockey tour in Brussels 22-25 Feb comes off!

I heard from Gibson’s today that there is absolutely no chance of the 5 month course being held in London, that they had anticipated my problem and even provisionally put me down for the 6 month course, so it is now, blast it, quite definite that at 2.15 pm on 2^nd April I must find myself at 214 Chancery Lane!  The only good thing about it is that the odds on my passing the exam are now increased, and that is something but our programme must be revised and I will writing booking a room, one bed, at Dunkeld arriving at Dunkeld on the 22^nd and getting back to Colchester on the 30^th, it doesn’t I’m afraid give us very long up there, but it would be 9 wonderful carefree days – on second thoughts I will delay writing to Mrs Wilson until I get your reactions to the scheme.  At 9 oclish tonight I’m all set for a game of poker, which should be good fun.  I wish I could throw off the cold I’ve had now for a solid week, it just won’t go.  Tomorrow I have to be all again all day, a visit to the Training Centre in the morning and then on to Warendorf to see the chaps at 52 Div HQ in the afternoon, when I get back I shall be just in time to change before going to Leonard Olney’s party, Thursday and Friday night table tennis, Saturday and Sunday pms, hockey, and Monday a big Training conference here and yours truly on duty that night, so I shan’t be at all sorry when Tuesday dawns, but as I say these full up days do make the time fly past and that is all that matters ‘til 14^th March.  My darling I must away to dinner but will be back with you between then and 9 ocl, so TTFNMBG

Not quite right as the time is now 0040 hrs!  I came up here after dinner and did a spot of office ‘home work’ and before I had a chance to get back on the letter the poker party were yelling for me – the game was a very successful one as far as I was concerned and I was 21/- up at the end – the usual finishing round of jack pots cost me quite a bit but part was recovered on the last ace pot which someone opened and drew no cards – smelling a slight rat I saw him with 3 fours and he had two pairs -!  Now my angel, as I may be on the latish side tomorrow – sorry – tonight I must hop into bed.  I do so hope when this reaches you, you will really be feeling yourself again – poor old sweet, it makes you feel rotten doesn’t it?  God bless and keep you and roll right on March, it can’t roll on too quickly  – ALL, absolutely every little scrap of it, my love to you, you are always in my thoughts

 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 13 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 12 Feb.