D -17

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Monday 25^th February

8.45 pm.

My own most precious darling,

            I have certainly got one stage nearer my release today, as my medical was completed this afternoon, without, from the medical angle, any untoward occurrences.  I was considerably taken aback when a female medical orderly handed me an old potted meat jar and said two doors up on the right hand side!  When, after some difficulty the job had been performed, I had to hand the jar + back to her, and the most frightful test-tube over Bunsen burner tests were carried out!  All was well, though.

            It has been a most amazing day, deep snow and a cloudless sky – considering the sun has been out all day, it has hardly thawed at all, an event I’m anxiously waiting for as we have hockey games laid on on Wednesday and next Sunday.  I had a really heavy day in the office and Leonard and his stooge didn’t get back from Winterberg until after lunch – they had started back yesterday evening but the roads were impassable and they had to leave it until this morning.  This, and the usual post weekend flood of bumph continued to fill up every minute this morning, and I was going hard at it until after 7 ocl and even now I’ve got an hour’s work at least to do before I go to bed – but I am well and truly justified by the thought that I have only to stick it for another week and can then really relax – Tomorrow I have to go out with Martin Bunch (he came back today) on a recce, on Wednesday (DV) we are playing hockey.  Thursday I hope to spend the day at Winterberg and in the evening am giving John Stevens dinner and a bed for the night.  Then Saturday and Sunday aren’t far off and the next week is my last on military duty.  It all seems just amazing and never do I think of it as the end of my army life or the re-start of my civilian life, always it is returning to you, and the start of our life together, what happy happy days are just around the corner now – thrilling just to think about.

Well, I suppose I must get on with the job I’ve brought back to do – so must say good-night to you, dearest girl.  I’m afraid this isn’t a very exciting letter, would that I could set down on paper the excitement that is my whole being nowadays – the strain of it will leave me like a limp rag when we meet, I expect!  God bless you, angel mine, and keep you.  I love you, darling, so very much, now and always forever I’m yours and only yours, with ALL my love and then some,

Yours for 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 26 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 25 Feb.