D -22

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 20^th Feb 46

11.30 pm.

My own most precious darling,

After a mail-less day yesterday I was delighted this morning to receive your Saturday letter – my darling I have a feeling that you haven’t quite recovered yet from your flu bug, and hope and pray most earnestly request that you take a really good time, and take things very easily.  I do so hope your cough is better, a cough can be the most aggravating thing imaginable, can’t it?  No matter what happens you must not repeat not have large circles under your eyes when we meet in London – I have great bags under mine at the moment but do not propose to let them stay in situ for long!  Darling, there is only one word for all this ‘middle-aged spread’ talk of yours, and that is, balls.  How utterly absurd of Joan to say that you were nothing like the WAAF photos of you, of course you wouldn’t be in civilian clothes – you will receive many severe rockets on the subject if you persist in the  MI 5 racket when I get back, I’m tellin’ yer strite, I am!

Two hectic days have just flashed by and some quarter of an hour or so I said au revoir to Peter Royle who came over and had dinner with me at the Officers Club, he was in great form, and we had a super natter about this and that.  After one of the most hectic mornings ever in which I did a days work in 4 hours, the hockey team set off at 1.30 for Bochum (some 30 miles from here) to play 3 Med Regt in the BAOR knock-out competition.  It was a foul afternoon and we had one crack-a-jack hail-storm during the first half, and mid-way through the second half when we were leading 3-0 (it was bitterly cold that most of our hands had gone numb) a terrific storm blew up, it got very dark, the wind was chock-a-bloc with snow and after struggling on for 5 minutes, we had to give up.  We weren’t back here ‘til 6.30 when Pete Royle was due to arrive.  Yesterday was also busy and culminated in 2 table tennis matches one in the Iserlohn League and a ‘needle’ inter-branch game.  Leonard and I played in both and the HQ game was a win 6-0, the inter-branch was also a win, but only just 6.4.  Leonard and I won our games in both matches.  It was quite good fun but I do look forward to a good quiet evening for a change.  I was asked to play hockey for the BAOR team in Brussels on Saturday and Sunday but declined (a) as Leonard will be away for the weekend, (he leaves for release on Tuesday) and (b) I must have a quiet week-end to get my kit sorted out and to relax for a bit.  I’m much too old for all this gallivanting about!!

Just over 3 weeks to go now, darling, and the very thought of it makes my blood flow faster and makes me so very excited.  I long so very much for the 14^th and HOME, our home.  I must to sleep, dearest heart, my eyes are only just managing to stay open.  God bless you, dearest heart, and keep you.  ALL my love is yours and 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 21 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 20 Feb.