D -7

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 7^th March

11.45 pm.

My own most precious darling,

            Three rousing cheers for my ‘relief’ – he arrived yesterday morning, and since his appearance I’ve been a far far happier man!  I still have quite a lot to do in the clearing up line but the goal is well in sight and there’s nothing now to take my eye off the ball!  Yesterday was considerably brightened by the arrival of your Saturday letter – at any-rate your boils don’t seem to be any worse, and I hope, angel, that they are really better now.  I was very interested to hear about the Policy – not a word will I breathe about it in any direction.

            Yesterday, (my first whole day back in the office after me flu), saw me very busy in the office line and at 5 ocl I had to be back here to get ready for our party – It was really a terrific success, there were about 80 people there and they all seemed to enjoy themselves a lot, the choice of drinks was White Lady, Brandy Flip or Maiden’s Prayer, and they were just the right strength.  After the last invitee had disappeared the 4 hosts plus some 3 or 4 others including Freddie Self sat down to dinner and it was a very weary Peter who climbed into bed just before midnight – weary but sober.  Freddie spent the night in the mess and left after breakfast this morning.  I’ve spent all today busily handing over to Norris and taking him round the various branches here.  This evening we had a gathering of all the hockey players and a good sober (?) time was had by all.  We forgathered at the Club at 7.15 and after dinner went to Studio 1 where I had arranged a film just for the 15 of us.  They put on a newish film called ‘A thousand and One Nights’ and though it wasn’t bad as a technicolour spectacle, it wasn’t the sort of film one wants to see again!  The general theme was a skit on Aladdin and his lamp – with a very glamorous half dressed red-headed genii!  Tomorrow I shall be up at Rhine Army all day and in the evening the mess has laid on a ‘smoker’ for the four of us who are going.  When I think that ‘this time next week’ ** we shall know the joys of our D day, my heart just leaps with joy, it really is the most wonderfully exciting thought.  Oh! darling, you’ve just no idea how I long for it, and, DV again in a fortnight’s time we shall be up in Bonnie Scotland again 3 rousing cheers.  Angel girl, I really must to bed – I love you, darling, just terribly terribly much, and long only to tell you and show you how much that really is.  God bless you, sweetheart mine, now and for always.  Only one more week.  ALL my love is 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 8 MR 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.    

On front of envelope 7 March 1946.