Category Archives: 1947 & Later

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his wife.

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Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Wednesday 20th 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 14th 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.

Letter from Peter C. Benham to his wife.

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Chad image with Wot!  Only 4 weeks and under 30 days?

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Thursday 14th February

1.30 pm.

My own most precious darling,

I am starting this letter to you after lunch as I may not have a lot of time later on this evening which promises to be another frightful rush.  TWO wizard letters to thank you for, one yesterday (Sunday) and one today (Monday) – what pleased me more than anything else was to hear that you are really better – poor darling, you must have felt absolutely bloody, anyway you are better now which all that matters is.  I hope some of my letters have arrived, we had a letter round the other day, saying that on account of the weather mail had been held up a bit, though your letters to me have been arriving wonderfully regularly.

Just before I left the office at 9.30 yesterday the mail arrived so I put your letter in my pocket, and once we had got out of the Town and onto the right road, I lit me old pipe and settled down to read and re-you’re your letter.  It was a lovely day and I enjoyed the run to Paderborn, then on to Warendorf and so back here, a lot.  I got back at 5.30 when the ‘rush’ began – I had quite a bit of work to do in the office and didn’t get away ‘til 6.30, back to the Mess to change, have a bath and dinner, then at 8.15 I went up to Leonard’s Mess where I found a cheery party about to begin – quite good band to which I had one or two dances, a good buffet and an excellent bar, to which I received several calls!  It was 01.30 hrs before I was back in the Mess – so come Saturday I shall feel much in need of a long nights sleep.  I have got to go to a ‘hot-air’ conference this afternoon which is a real nuisance as I’ve stacks of outstanding work on hand and must try and get away from the office in good time tonight.  So, my angel, with those famous last words ‘press on regardless’ ringing in my ears, I’ll be signing off until this evening – au revoir and God bless.

6.30 pm – I got away from the office rather earlier than I’d expected – and saved 10 mins in getting back here by getting a lift – I’ve borrowed a car this evening so the problems are not quite so acute – at 7.45 I’m on parade at the Officers Club for a farewell dinner and at 9 ocl up at the Barracks to play for G v the Defence Company at pingers!  When I get back, which won’t be late, I must dash off a line to Aunt Dolly and send a cheque to Dick Porter being our Golf subs – a thing I’ve been meaning to do for weeks.  You are quite right about ‘For them that Trespass’ – I thought it was one of those I sent back, if it’s not I’ll take a look round here – is it the book about a man who had sown his oats in no 15 (?) Hannover (?) Road, and the girls boy-friend murders her and the happily married man confesses etc, etc?  If it is the same one I enjoyed every moment of it.  It just seems amazing that today we are half way through February, no time at all since it was 1 Feb when we were in The Hague.  One month, four weeks, today we shall be knowing the joys of our D day, 3 rousing cheers!  Oh! darling I’m just bursting with joy at the thought of it, now I must have a good wash afore me dinner, luv.  God bless keep you, dearest mine, and keep you.  I was so very relieved to hear you are better.  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 15 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.   

On front of envelope 14 Feb.