D -35

Chad image Wot! Only 5 more weeks?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 7^th  February

10.15 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Today has only had one bright spot in it and that was this evening when I got back to the office at 9 pm to find your Saturday letter sitting right there on my table – I loved, as always, reading all your news and hearing all about Joan’s visit – a very bright idea on your part to get the Dunnant’s round and vice versa.  I was very pleased to hear that the books arrived safely – they didn’t take long, did they?  I will most certainly do all I can to get some more cutlery – I am almost certain to go in that direction before I come home, the only snag now is that for anything in bulk one must get an authority signed by the local Mil Gov people – but I think that can be got over by saying it is for the Mess!  Leave it to me, but don’t expect too much!  In order to enlighten you on the gong ribbon I enclose a small snippet, easier than drawing or trying to describe with any accuracy!  Bill’s letter came today, it was very good of him to write and I must drop him a line to thank him.

I’ve had one of those days when nothing has gone quite according to plan.  I left here at 9.15 and made my appointment right on the dot at 11 ocl.  We tooled out to the range but the most important chap didn’t appear and after hanging about for some time, gave it up.  It was then after 1 and having nothing much to do this p.m. I decided to whip along to his HQ (some 70 miles away) and see him – a RAF type.  I got there at 3 and waited til 4.30 before he appeared – he had gone to the wrong rendezvous!  We did our business and just on 8 ocl I was some 3 miles from home, pouring rain, when we took a wrong turning and the driver backed into a ditch!  Fortunately I got a lift back to camp and then had to hunt round for the ‘recovery’ vehicle and escort him down to the ditched car.  I got back into the Mess for a very late and rather tepid dinner at 9.30!  What a day, and am I tired, I’ll say so.

Ever since I got back on Monday it just hasn’t stopped raining and everywhere is flooded – I gather the Rhine is up to a record height and the bridge has been or is being washed clean away at Cologne.

My ‘doings’ has practically disappeared (no, it’s not that cold here!) and it’s a great relief and I hope I’ve seen the last of it for a long time.

Well, angel, unless I stop now and get to bed I shall just fall asleep as I write.  Roll on March, it just can’t come too quickly and I’m longing for our D day more than ever before and for that heavenly noise of penny insertion into phone box, bon-bon, your wonderful voice and our meeting in London and it’s only 5 more weeks to go.

God bless you, dearest most wonderful girl, and keep you.  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 9 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 7 Feb.

D -36

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 6  February

9 pm.

My own most precious darling,

A whole lot of thanks for your Friday letter which arrived this morning and for the many kind words and congrats on my MBE – the ECS was very quick on the draw – likewise the Telegraph and Essex Chronicle.  Yes, angel, it goes right after me name, at any rate that is the ‘done’ thing.  I very much doubt if I shall get to an Investiture, there are so many outstanding now that I just can’t see it happening, not this side of 1947 anyway, it would be rather fun wouldn’t it, and an excuse for a binge in Town!  I had very nice letters from Lois, Gerald and Brian today, Lois going to great lengths to say how she had never really expected it, Gerald taking the opportunity to announce his election to the Directorship of the Essex & Suffolk, and Brian his new car!  So everyone seems happy.  When you told me of Gerald’s job the other day I do seem to remember his telling me that he expected to fill Gurney’s place on the Board, though I can’t honestly say that I remember his turning off when not so elected – I think it must have been when I was in Scotland or round D day time.

Dearest heart, I’ve told you all my news, thanked you for many letters since my return on Monday but I must own up to having forgotten the most important thing of all – to thank you such a whole lot for the wizard present of that dispatch case, which has now risen considerably in value, and I just can’t thank you enough.

Our match last night against the unbeaten Q (Movements) team was very successful and we gave them their first beating – 7-3.  I didn’t get back to the Mess ‘til nearly 11 as the game started half an hour late owing to the lights fuzing, and after reading a few pages of an excellent book by Lady E. Smith, called ‘Magic Lantern’ I was soon asleep.  There is little of interest to report today and I’m now on night duty, tomorrow I shall be out most of the day looking round some rifle ranges and in the evening I may go along to see a Sonja Henge (?) film which is on all this week.  You will be pleased to hear that my what-not is better, and touching wood, I think the miracle has happened and that I have thrown off the flu germ.  I have one slight worry on my mind at the moment, arising from a letter received this morning from Gibson’s announcing the programme of their courses and requesting an immediate reply as to what I want to do.  The worrying thing is this – the 5 months class starting 9 May (ideal) will only be held in Guildford, the 6 month and 4 month in London – but the 6 month starts on April 2^nd, and hence the problem.  I wrote this pm telling them that I couldn’t possibly attend the Guildford course, (lectures start at 12 am) and also saying that the 2 April one would only give me some 19 days after being demobbed to settle down in, I have asked them for their advice, earliest  – all very tricky isn’t it.  if the worst comes to the worst I think I must do the 6 month course and our programme would them have to be re-adjusted as follows:-

14 Mar – HOME

21 Mar – Up to Dunkeld for 10 days

31 Mar – Return home

2 Apr – Start course at 2.15 pm.

The hours in London are good – the lectures are from 2.15 -3.45 on Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fris, which, on those days will mean catching the 12.30 ? train up and 6 ocl train back giving me about 1½ hours at the Law Societies Hall after the lectures for a cupper and writing up me notes.  It is a problem though, what says you chum?  One must look rather to the future and so very much hangs on to my passing in November.  I was very disturbed to hear today that the food rations are to be cut to the war-time level – it really is a bugger, isn’t it?  But soon there will be 2 of us to cater for which won’t be quite so bad, or will it?  Now my dearest heart, I must awa the noo, I can hardly believe that in the absolutely small number of 35 days I shall really be home, how I wish it will just flash past – it won’t be long now, and oh! how I’m longing for it – if we have to curtail our visit to Scotland to 10 days, boy will we make up for it in August when the course breaks up for a month – God bless you, sweetest girl, always – I’m just LONGING for ‘this time 35 days’, and think of nothing but you, only you, and our wizard home.  ALL my love is yours for ever

            and always, and always will be

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 7 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 6 Feb.

D -37

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Tuesday 5^th  February

6.30 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I have so much to write to you about that I hardly know where to begin – my various doings since I wrote to you on Sunday morning, my arrival back here rather late yesterday evening and my joy at finding your letters waiting for me in my office.  To take things in their proper order – after a very good lunch on Sunday we went over to a ground some 10 miles out of The Hague and there played our final match in the pouring rain and high wind.  We were very keen on winning our last game and after a goal-less first half, we all went flat out and won 5-1, of which my contribution was 3, to conclude the playing side of our tour – Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1, goals for 11 goals against 8 – not at all a bad effort all things, especially our lack of training, being considered.  After the game the Batavarien Club gave us an excellent dinner in The Hague followed by a very boisterous dance (I played ping pong in a slightly drunken stupor most of the time!) and it was a very weary but sobered up Peter who crawled into bed at 1 am on Monday.  I was so physically tired and mentally fresh that I just couldn’t get to sleep, and like you the other night, pitched and tossed for ages before I became unconscious.   3 of us set off for home yesterday morning at 10.30 and after a very good run we fetched up at Bad Oeynhausen at 6 ocl.  My car didn’t arrive ‘til 6.45 and was only going on about one cylinder – it took 3½ hours to get back, but eventually we did and 10.15 saw me in the office eagerly gathering up my letters from you.  When I got back to the Mess I had some sandwiches and tea, unpacked, climbed into bed and joy of joys, settled down to read 3 letters from you, written on Sunday, Monday and Wednesday – many thanks, little letter writing hero.  I just lapped up and re-read every word of all of them – I hope Joan’s stay was a great success and that your throat is not too sore.  I like the sound of the bureaux – but if they don’t seem too good and you don’t get one or both, don’t worry, we shall find something in time and in the meanwhile I can always make do with a table.  Noel Coward’s film ‘Brief Encounter’ sounds excellent and I’m very much looking forward to seeing it – we will see it together somewhere if you don’t mind going again – I doubt whether it will come out here.  No, you hadn’t told me about John Smith not going back to the Law, I suppose he is wise and I’ve no doubt he will do very well with his Father in Law – I hope you manage to steer clear of the flu bug – on a raw carrot diet you will soon be disgustingly fit and make me look the colour of this paper!  I’m none too well myself tonight – one of the chaps in our car yesterday had flu I think and it will be a miracle if I don’t get it as well – I feel a bit like it but am gargling hard and hoping for the best!  Also, damn and blast it, that wretched pile of mine has reared its ugly head again – thank God its an external performer, I’ve got some stuff for it, and I know just where to put it!!  Tonight I’m playing in a very key table tennis match G v Q (Movements) in the knock out comp – they are rather hot and we shall do well to win – I shall come straight back to bed when it is all over – I had a very busy day in the office though I found it very hard to get down to it after 5 really good days away.  I saw Martin Buck this evening and my successor arrives on March 4^th, so in less than a month’s time I shall be so thrilled at the thought of arriving home that it won’t be true, it’s bad enough now.  I’m hoping, DV, to leave here on the 12^th (5 weeks today!) and be with you on the 14^th) it is just the most wonderful thought in the world.  Group 24 now goes out on the 14^th instead of the 18^th, so they may bring our date forward to the 10^th – how wizard if they do.  Tomorrow I’m on duty so I shall be writing from the office.  My only mail today was from Mrs Wilson which I am enclosing.  I hope soon to be able to let her have the exact date on which we shall be arriving – as a matter of a fact I did tell her the dates in my letter, though said they might be subject to a last minute alteration.  Isn’t it a heavenly thought, two weeks of sheer heaven with you, away from everyone and everything, free to do as we please and after it no good-byes, no trains to see off etc.  oh! angel I long for it all so terribly much, all of it with you, my dearest wife.  God bless and keep her always, I’m loving her so terribly much and will for ever and always – all my love is yours, until demain, au revoir,

            Yours, only yours

for  ever,

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 6 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 5 Feb.

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 3^rd February

From The Hague.

My dearest Maz

I know you will excuse this short note from here, but my time is not my own except for the odd hour in the morning but I go back tomorrow to Iserlohn and will write at length as soon as I return.  We are an extremely cheery little party – 15 of us and we forgathered on Wednesday evening ay HQ BAOR.  They gave us 5 staff cars and all Thursday was spent travelling – through Osnabruck, Enschede, Zutphen, Apeldoorn (I shall stop and see John tomorrow) and Utrecht – we got here at 5.30 pm – the Hotel, our HQ, is very comfortable.  On Friday afternoon we played Leiden University and beat them 4-1 afterwards a big dinner and many speeches, and as I am Captain of the team, I had to do my stuff!  Yesterday we played the Probable Dutch XI (it was a Trial game for them) and their training and fitness were too much for us and we lost 6-2 – they were extremely good.  Afterwards (we played at Amsterdam) we were given a terrific dinner by the Dutch Hockey Asⁿ!! (more speeches) with Union Jacks all over the place.  I wasn’t up ‘til 10 am and we play our final game this afternoon v Batavarien which is a travelling club of ex-internationals.  It is all great fun and a wonderful change from work!  You will have heard from Eileen that they have given me a M.B.E. – it is very gratifying and something to show for the last 18 months sIog – Maz dear I must away until Tuesday when I will write more fully – much love to you and to Pari and Elli.

            Yours as ever,

very affectionately

                        Peter  (only next month now!)

Letter Form headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 376 dated 4 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope Written Feb 3^rd 1946 rec Feb 5^th 1946 (6)

D -39

Chad picture with ‘Wot! NOT 30s ALREADY?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 3^rd  February

12.30

My own most precious angel,

I’m afraid this will be rather a short ‘un as I was up very late this morning, and have shortly to go down and join the rest of ‘les boys’ in a pre-lunch glass of beer.  It’s another filthy looking day, low grey cloud and pouring with rain, it may clear though before we play our final game at 3 pm against a team which I hope won’t be quite so strong as yesterdays.  We left here at 2 ocl and were at Amsterdam at 2.45.  There were some 2-300 spectators and the arena was well bedecked with Union Jacks etc.  The first 15 minutes were absolutely disastrous and the Dutch XI just walked through us to score 4 quick goals – thereafter we pulled back and they beat us 6-2 in the end, a result which everyone expected.  We had a wonderful dinner at the Hotel Victoria given by the Dutch Hockey Assⁿ, union jacks on the table etc, and the menu was, hors d’ oeuvres, soup, steak and veg, ice pudding wine and cigars – several girls were ‘imported’, mostly unattractive and 3 of us left early and went to a sort of night-club by our hotel here were we had a few drinks and so to bed.  I read for quite a bit and was asleep by 1 ocl – this morning I had tea and toast in bed and wasn’t up until 10.30!  A lot of them are staying here tomorrow, the chief attraction being a dance in the evening but as 2 others have to go back tomorrow, I shall go with them.  I’m just longing to get back to that pile of letters which I hope to find and whatever time I get back to Iserlohn I shall make a bee-line for the office.  Darling, this is a miserable letter but it comes to you just to let you know that I’m thinking just of you and loving you terribly, terribly much, the more I see of night-clubs and this that and t’other so much the more do I long for the time when you will be with me always.  God bless you, dearest heart, and keep you always – I love you so very much and will always be yours for ever

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 375 dated 5 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 3 Feb.

D -42.

Chad picture with “Wot! 6 more weeks?”

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 31^st January

10.15 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I’m writing this in the lounge of the Officers Hotel, The Hague, after a long but pleasant journey here.  In all we covered about 240 miles through Herford, Osnabruck, Euschede, Zutphen, Apeldoorn, Utrecht.  5 of the BAOR Humbers brought us here and we came in convoy – average speed about 35 mph even with a half hour break for coffee and doughnuts in the YMCA place at Rheine.  We left at 10 ocl and were here at 5.30.  The team is about 15 strong and we shall probably all play in two out of the three matches.  Just for your interest I enclose a copy of the arrangements made for the tour.  Coulson, an Irish International for many years had to cry off at the last moment and I’ve been ‘appointed’ captain of the team, rather a sweat as any speech-making which has to be done will fall on me!  Tomorrow morning we are going to have a run around on the local field, followed by a conducted tour round the City by one of the Dutch Under Secretaries!

Did my letter to you last night sound the most awful piffle?  I’m afraid it probably did as I was feeling anything but sober – we all went along to the Rhine Army HQ Club after dinner where I had several gins followed by two champagne cocktails!  I might say that the concentration put in on that letter was something terrific!  After dinner tonight several of us decided to go to see a film (‘Waterloo Road’ was on) but when we got there we found that you had to have purchased a ticket well beforehand and the place was packed out.  Instead we walked up the main street and back and I’ve just come up from the bar where I smoked my last cigarette of the day and had one glass of beer.  I’m afraid the evenings are going to be a trifle hectic so my letter writing programme is to write to you on Saturday and Sunday mornings, and when I get back to Iserlohn on Monday night.  I’m just longing to see your letters waiting for me, it makes getting back really worth while.  Darling one, I would have given anything to have had you with me today, and every other day too, the country we came through (it was a very similar one to your journey to Germany, wasn’t it?) was very varied, from the comparatively hilliness round Osnabruck to the absolute pancakishness of Holland, especially the stretch between Utrecht and here.  The whole tour seems to be extremely well organised and our rooms are ‘de luxe’ – I am sharing one with Freddie Self who goes straight from the Hook to Harwich on leave on Sunday night, would that I was coming too, but 6 weeks isn’t long to wait, just 42 days and all being well we shall be shall be together for always – as the times gets really near, so does my impatience and longing for it increase correspondingly.  Dearest heart and must away to bed for an early night (while I can!).  God bless and keep you – I love you oh! so terribly much and you are never out of my thoughts.  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 376 dated 3 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 31 Jan.

D -43

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 30^th January

10 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I’m actually up at Bad Oeynhausen, but not having written last night felt I must pen a few lines to you and hope that there is a post from the Mess in the morning.  After a very hectic morning I left Isulohn at 3 pm picked up Freddy Self and another bod at Soest and arrived up here at 7.30 pm to find most of the other members of the team assembled here and having very much of a ‘pre-tour party’!  We have just come back from the ‘21’ Club and I’m now smoking my 10^th and last cigarette of the day.  F. Self is sharing a room with me and is fast asleep.  I was delighted this a.m. to receive your Friday letter and to hear, inter alia, about Bill and Dorothy’s supper with you, and the prospect of a Lois (thawed out!) visit to you the following evening.  Many thanks for your letter, darling.  We leave hear by cars at 9 ocl tomorrow morning and should arrive at The Hagueround about6 or 7pm – it promises to be an excellent tour and I’m much looking forward to it.  After a very busy day yesterday in the office I set sail for Witten at 6.30 and was at Peter Royle’s Mess at 7.20.  After an excellent dinner of soup, hare and real cream sweet, we settled down to a really terrific natter and it was 10.30 and time for me to be returning before I knew it.  I learnt many interesting things about the 17^th between the time I left them and the Victory March through Tunis in which the 17^th took a prominent part.  I didn’t get back ‘til 11.30 and was so tired that I just dropped into bed and was asleep in no time.  Darling, in just on 6 weeks now I shall be putting in the most historic phone call ever and there is no thought in all the world which gives me such a thrill as that.  It is all getting so wonderfully close now, and when next I’m back to the old office on Tuesday the days will be numbered in the 30’s – throughout the next 5 days you will be, as always, so very constantly in my thoughts, and I will write to you just whenever I can, and am I longing for my return and the little ‘pile’ of letters waiting for me, yessir!  Angel one, I must into bed now and to sleep, and must say goodnight and God bless you for always – you are forever in my heart and I love you more than I can ever tell you in words – may my dreams be just of you, all you.  ALL my love, dearest heart, is yours, and yours alone.

            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 830 dated 31 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 30 Jan.

D -45

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Monday 28^th January

6.45 pm.

My own most precious darling,

There promises to be rather a long ‘session’ this evening as 5 stalwarts from D Mess are coming over at 8 ocl to play us at Table Tennis – we shall get a proper hiding but they are bringing their dart board with them so perhaps we may get our own back at that!  Many thanks, darling, for your Thursday letter which arrived this morning – I was delighted to hear that Joan is coming to spend a few days with you – it will certainly be a pleasant change – please remember that I shall expect to hear some very good stories as a result of her visit!  I’m so pleased you had such a good day at Mersea, the two children sound most attractive – Sorry to hear that Lois has been in poor form, very trying and always the same when things go quite wrong.  I entirely agree that we must join the Officers’ Club, I will go up and see Ladlow when I get back to make the necessary arrangements.

Slight item of news which will give you, I hope, something of a minor thrill – they have been and gone and awarded me a MBE!  I was told about it this afternoon and saw me name in print, Peter Carr Benham etc (Colchester) in the London Gazette dated 24 Jan I think it was – Lois will no doubt say ‘I told you so’ but you can tell her to stuff it because there were only two for our G Branch (an OBE plus mine) and there honestly was nothing automatic about it and though I says it as oughtn’t I did put in quite a lot of hard work between D day and VE day.  Angel girl, I fear I must pop along and wash before dinner so will say, au revoir for now.

11 pm.  Back again darling after a very enjoyable evening – as things turned out we were only beaten 3-2 at Pingers and then suffered a heavy but hilarious defeat at darts – Ted Wasdell and I won our games and we were 2 all with one game to play – our no 5 is almost a non-player so didn’t get much of a look-in – we then played 2 doubles matches winning one and losing one.  It was a good evening though and everyone enjoyed it.  Tomorrow I’m going over to Dortmund for the evening to have dinner with Peter Royle, we shall, I hope, be able to have a real good natter.  You will be pleased to hear of a considerable reduction in smoking on my part these last few days – I’m now down to 10 per day and don’t find it the strain I thought I would – I’ve been doing it since last Wednesday!  I’m afraid there is very little else to report so will close down now but will be back with you again tomorrow night.  Could you let Lois know about the MBE as I shan’t be writing her a special letter – Dearest, dearest heart, God bless and keep you always – I live only for March and to see you again and be with you for ever – ALL absolutely ALL, my love to you, now and for ever and always.  I shall be yours, just yours darling

                                    Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Peter C Benham, 9 Vint Crescent Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 30 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 28 Jan.

D -46

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 27^th January

10 am.

My own most precious darling,

Two things prevented my writing to you last night, first a farewell party in the evening at which though I was very far from being tight, I had my fill and when I returned I felt so weary that bed was the answer and secondly I shan’t be up at the office ‘til after 11 am by which time I shall have missed the post and you would be receiving two letters at once, instead of one good long ‘un which I shall write throughout the course of today – it is lovely out, similar to all the days we’ve had this week, very sunny but not quite so cold.  I hope it continues like this and the grounds in Holland thaw out a bit before we play on them at the end of next week.  I didn’t have much time for anything but work yesterday and got through a lot before I left the office at 6.15.  Then I came back to the Mess, had a good bath and changed, dinner and then out to the party at the Club – it wasn’t a ‘demob’ party but a friend of mine who has been promoted to half Colonel and goes down to Brussels as the chief copper – I need hardly say that he’s a regular.  Leonard Olney went down to Brussels yesterday for a short leave and won’t be back until Wednesday, so I shall have a lot of extra work to do between now and then – when he gets back I’m off the BAOR HQ where we ‘assemble’ on Wednesday evening and then go by car from there to Holland on Thursday – I’m looking forward to it a lot.

The brightest spot in all yesterday was the arrival of your Monday letter, which, as always, I read with great interest and for which many thanks.  You can get right up off dem bended knees momma, cos I ainta got no intention what-so-ever ob bringin’ ome anyting dat ainta absolutely necessary, no sir!  No, I promise that only the absolute essentials will show themselves at the flat – the first consignment of books will be on its way today.

You certainly had a good long lie in the other morning, and why not.  If you had nought to do and it was such a foul day outside then I reckon you were very wise – make the most of your chances now ‘cause soon we shall both of us have to be up bright and early – I might say that I wasn’t up ‘til 10 past 9 this morning, but I hadn’t got the excuse that it was a miserable day!

I have just spent a super 33 1/3 pfennings and feel a whole lot better – I heard rather a pretty little Somerset tale the other day but you will have to imagine the dialect – ‘where be you off to, George?’  ‘I be a going off on my honeymoon, Bill’.  ‘Be you a going to Paignton, George?’  ‘No Bill I be going to stick un in just as it is!’  Well on this high literary note, I will say au revoir for now, angel, I must away up to the office but will be right back with you on my return.

6 pm.  Well, it’s not quite ‘on my return from the office’ but I’ve not let the grass grow under my feet and did NOT sleep this afternoon!  I didn’t get back from the office ‘til just after 1.  I had a long chat with the Chief of Staff who is leaving us at the end of this week – in many ways I shall be sorry when he goes – it was very useful to have someone in high places who took an interest in hockey, but as I’m going shortly myself it couldn’t really matter much less – he has, I’m afraid, rather got the sack and is going, much against his will to Malaya – no promotion or anything like that.

After lunch, in a fit of glorious energy, I donned my shorts and sweater and went out for a long training run – when I got in I had a good hot bath, by which time it was 4.30 and a cupper was the order of the day.  I’ve since then written to Brian, sending him a cheque for £2=15=6 insurance money and I asked him to let you have the receipt.  I have also written to Gerald and Lois, to the former in reply to a long and very pleasant letter on the subject of futures etc which I had from him yesterday – most encouraging but no figures as to salary were mentioned.  I told him that when I get home we will have a day at  Walton when we can discuss all the various office problems and how much they will pay me – It would be better that way than fixing things at the office where one gets countless interruptions and damn all settled.

When I got to the office this morning my clerk handed me a good fat letter from you.  I was delighted to get it and laughed me ‘ead orf at your story of the tramp, I hope your surmise when he started putting his boot back on again proved correct.  What a busy little bee you must have been the other afternoon, shifting all that coal about, very arduous work – The cleaners didn’t waste much time doing the jacket and trousers, did they.  Many thanks for having them done for me.  You are very wise to be getting a pinstripe from Smith’s, it will, as you say, last you for a long time – I seem to remember you talking about £26 for a suit when I was home – so it can just come out of my account being the other half of the piano money.  That, with your Pitlochry tweed, will set you up in real pansy form for next ‘season’ – No, you haven’t told me about ‘Farewell Campo 12’ before, it sounds excellent.  Is it one you’ve bought before or have you got it out from Smith’s?  I really must tackle Lois and Gerald before I come back, on new names for them Magra and Pari are too bloody stupid for words, aren’t they?  What are your suggestions chum?  I have permanently dropped Elli, which was also stupid.  My programme for the next ¾ hour is work, then dinner, followed by a trip to the cinema where I’m going to see Gordon Harker in ’29 Acacia Avenue’ then back here to resume and conclude this letter to you – sorry it’s in so many parts but you know how it is.  So for now, my love, au revoir, I’ll be back.

10.15 pm.  I’ve just got back from the film and I must admit that I’ve seen many worse – I laughed like a drain at many of the double meaning phrases – the board of censor’s must be very pure minded, do I can’t see how it ever got past them – it was one of the most sex-ridden performances in a subtle way I’ve seen for a long time – one of the neatest phrases just before an engaged couple went up to spend the night together was the likening of the ‘trying’ period of engagement ‘to driving a car with the accelerator and the brakes both full on’, ‘animals’ the chap said ‘don’t get engaged, they just get right on with the job’ – this last brought the house down!  I went to the film with an OU friend of mine in the Mess – I think we just got back in time as it is now pouring with rain – I only hope it doesn’t turn to snow.  Well, Angel, I think the time for bed is at hand and I’ll begin to close down for the night.  Only 46 more days – it’s a thought which I just can’t get out of my head.  Oh! darling, I love you so awfully much and we must make every day of our life together just the happiest in the world.  God bless you, dearest girl, and keep you – you are never out of my thoughts and for ever and always I shall be as I am now, yours, only yours

            with ALL my love

                        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 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 27 Jan.

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Sunday 27 January

My dearest Maz

Another solid week nearer the 14^th March and it has been a very varied one too.  The cake is still going strong though it has almost had its day now, it really is a real beauty.  Many thanks for your two letters, dated 17^th and 21^st – I am glad to hear that the drawing room is finished.  I should love to have seen you and Pari sitting in state in the kitchen – I hope Eva’s visit was a success, and that the Filbert was in better form than the last time you met him!  You and Eileen seem to have been terrific Aunt Kates with the fudge – Eileen reported feelings of near sickness the other day due to too much of it!  I hope she makes a dollop for me when I come back.  Yes, I saw the notice about the memorial service for Hugh – many thanks for the cutting ‘Monty plans his Germany from sick-bed’ – though I hadn’t seen it in print, the repercussions have been felt down here and several minor flaps have arisen therefrom.  I’ve seen two films this week, but at the private cinema ‘studio1’- the first on Monday night was a German film in agfacolour (much easier on the eyes than technicolour) – the film was made in about 1940 and really wasn’t bad at all – no sort of propaganda about it and quite a normal sort of love story plot – I couldn’t of course follow the words, though I knew by the actions what was going on!  The other film I saw was ‘Over 21’, a very poor American film with earnest young and not-so-young officer cadets addressing fellow cadets on America’s war and peace aims – Irene Dunne was the only bright spark about it.  Our weekly inter-branch table tennis match was played on Wednesday evening against Welfare, whom we beat very soundly 9-1 on their own table – our number 5 lost one of his two matches.  I had a hectic evening on Tuesday – I was due for a ‘poker’ evening with several chaps in the mess and just before dinner was invited to play in an ‘exhibition’ table tennis game against the local German team.  I told them I was already otherwise engaged for the evening but would help them out by coming along, playing my game and then departing.  I played a chap who hadn’t got much of a clue beat him 21-9, 21-8 to make the score in the match 3-3 and went back to the poker game.  I had to spend the whole of Friday up at Paderborn (about 60 miles from here) where in the morning and afternoon I was sitting on a Board to determine whether or not a certain range is safe, and in the evening I had to give a lecture to some 40 students of the BAOR P.T. School on Hockey – it went down really quite well and I was asked to go again next month which is always a good sign.  When I got back to the office late on Friday evening I found a signal in from Rhine Army saying that I had been chosen to play for BAOR in the forthcoming tour in Holland.  We assemble at HQ BAOR on Wednesday, spend the night there, then go off by car at 0900 hrs on Thursday.  We play games on Friday Saturday and Sunday in Amsterdam and The Hague then come back on Monday – provided the weather is good it will be great fun, and will make a very good break – if I get half a chance I will try and stop at Apeldoorn on my way through and call in on the Van Dyckes.

Leonard Olney went down to Brussels yesterday on short leave and won’t be back until Wednesday so I can see myself in for a couple of very hectic days.

There hasn’t been a cloud in the sky all this week but it is still very cold and both the hockey games arranged this week had to be called off as the ground is as hard as iron, rather a pity in view of this tour but after lunch today I went out for half an hour’s run, followed by a good hot bath, and I now feel fit for anything.  Reading the papers at tea-time I saw sorry to see that the U’s got a trouncing, but what an amazing effort young Barnard put up when playing for the Arsenal v Leics – 3 goals – good going.  Only 46 more days, Maz, and I’ll be right home for good – the latest ‘gen’ on my relief is that he will be coming in on about the first March if not before, so, all being well, there’s no chance of my being ‘frozen’ again.  I just can’t tell you how much I look forward to the day when I hand the whole of my ticket in at ‘the North’ – we will have several ‘demob’ celebrations!  Now I must away as I’m going to see Gordon Harker in ’29 Acacia Avenue’ this evening.  God bless you, Maz, and much love to you.

            Yours as ever

very affectionately

                        Peter

In envelope headed ‘O A S’ addressed to Mrs Gerald C Benham, 5 Oxford Road Colchester Essex.

Postmarked FIELD POST OFFICE 734 dated 28 JA 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope Written Jan 27^th 1946 rec Feb 1^st 1946 (5)