D -16

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Tuesday 26^th  February

9 pm.

My own most precious darling,

After a mail-less day yesterday I was delighted to be handed your Friday letter this morning, the one written ‘in great haste and considerable alarm’!  Alarm which I hope has been dispelled by all my letters after the ‘black’ week-end when I was suffering from an overdose of rather high level work, and after I had met one or two friends of mine who also are law students and who thought I was being a real mut to sit so early – but once and for all November it was and always has been, and will be.  Another thing at that time was our fortnight in Scotland which I just couldn’t see happening – I saw myself dashing home, catching the next train to Scotland and then being all clewed up at Gibson’s on the 2^nd!  I’m certain that we shall be much better off going up there in our own time in August, don’t you agree?

Leonard left this morning, and the whole show here is breaking up very fast – his ‘aspro’ (instant relief) seems a very nice chap young and keen and very willing.  I was sorry to see Leonard go, he has been a good friend and an A1 G3.  I had to go over to Dortmund at 10 ocl with Martin and the CCRA on a recce and Martin very cunningly slipped away at lunch-time leaving the CCRA and myself to finish the job.  We didn’t get back ‘til after 5 ocl and I had a long paper job to complete before the end of the day, and was still doing it at 7.  At 7.15 it was completed and I was away from the office like a rocket and you couldn’t see me for snow, quite literally so, as it started snowing at tea time, and the snow drops were still descending.  I didn’t bring anything back to the mess by way of work, but have a thickish day ahead tomorrow.  I had hoped that at any rate my last fortnight or so in the Army might have lent itself to some good ‘swans’, for most people it has, and that I’d be able to get out on the scrounge for a spot of loot etc, but I just can’t see it happening and I’m very doubtful if I shall be able to make that journey to Solingen, but I will if it’s humanly possible.  Still, always looking on the bright side (?), things might be much worse and it all helps to make the next 16 days go by that much quicker and that is all that matters – my eye was never more imperturbably fixed on the ball!  Dearest girl I must away to bed the noo – I’m sorry to have raised such a storm in a tea-cup, it won’t happen again I assure you, and you need have no doubts as to my taking and passing the Final at the first opportunity – God bless you, dearest girl and keep you.  Existing only to see you again and loving you so much more than somewhat,

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 28 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 26 Feb.