D -40

Major P.C. Benham,

G Branch

HQ 1 Corps District

BAOR

Saturday 2^nd February

11.30 pm.

My own most precious darling,

Yesterday started just like our Sunday in Brussels, pouring rain, low grey sky and a high wind – by lunch-time it had cleared a bit and by 3 ocl when the game started the sun was out!  I had a look round the shops in the first part of the morning but, though they looked full, there was absolutely damn all to buy – the only bulbs on sale were crocus and at a ridiculous price – I bought a couple of Vrightlander 120 films and that was the sum total of what I got – there’s no point in paying stupid sums for shoddy articles, don’t you agree?  At 11.15 we all forgathered for a cupper cawfee and at 11.30 the civilian party arrived to take us round the Art Gallery and the House of Parliament.  The pictures, some hidden some pinched by the Boche but since recovered, were really lovely, and were excellently explained by the Director of the place – Rembrandt, Van Dyke, Jan Steen etc at their best – the most intriguing one was Rembrandt’s large picture of an operation scene.  After looking round the seat of Parliament we came back for lunch at 12.45 and set off for Leiden University, some 12 miles from here, at 1.30.  The University, the oldest in Holland, is a lovely place with some 3,500 students.  It was the only University closed by the Boche, because the students went on strike when the Jewish Principle got the boot.  Before a largish crowd we took the field just after 3 and had a very shaky start but Bobby Fawcus (O.U.) kept goal magnificently and we opened the scoring after 20 minutes when yours truly popped one in – we lead 1-0 at half time and then settled down to some really good hockey, fortunately playing down wind!  I got a second just after the re-start and we added 2 more before we finished, to beat them 4-1, all very satisfactory.  The pace was very hot and they were much fitter than we were, but somehow we just lasted out, though no-one was sorry when the final whistle blew.  After tea and beer in the club-house, we returned to the University which we were shown round, and were liberally supplied with Dutch Gin, absolute fire-water.  The drivers had returned to The Hague and as I was driving one of the cars I had to go very easy on the liquor.  A large gathering sat down to dinner at 7.30 and the courses, fresh herring, soup, fried sole, éclairs, were interspersed with speeches by almost all the Dutchmen, the President of the University sports club, the secretaries of the Dutch Hockey Assoc., the Batavarien Club, and the captain of the other team.  I had learnt a short but appropriate bit of Dutch to thank all concerned and it was greeted with hilarious applause and cat-calls.  After another tour round the main building and a cup of excellent coffee, we left at 10 ocl and were back here in the Hotel at 10.30 – a glass of ale, a good hot bath and so to bed, feeling a trifle weary but in good spirits.  We have all been out to a photographers this morning having a group taken, it should be amusing!  The sun is right out now and after lunch we go up to Amsterdam for what will, I think, be our hardest game.  I’m afraid this is just a catalogue of events, but I hope not too uninteresting and oh! darling girl how I wish you were here.  February already though and next month, oh! joy to think about it.  I shall be home for all time – I live for nothing but that, for nothing but life with the dearest sweetest girl alive, for nothing but our love and your happiness – for all those things I long so much, and in only 40 days we shall stand on the very threshold of a new life together for always.  God bless and keep you, dearest heart, I can’t tell you how much I love you, it is beyond words, it is just so very, very much.  All my love to you and may the next 40 days just flash past.  Au revoir for now

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 376 dated 4 FE 46.  Signed P.C. Benham.     

On front of envelope 2 Feb.