Soldiers are reunited after 50 years

Published: August 23, 2007 | 6663rd good news item since 2003

MORE than 50 years after they were serving in the Army together, nine ex-soldiers met up to reminisce about their time in the Malayan jungle.

Bill Carr, 72, sent the Echo a picture which was taken while he was doing his National Service with 7 Platoon, C Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1954.

Originally from Maindy, Cardiff, Bill was shown the picture by his brother Jackie who had found it.

In the photo, Bill is pictured with fellow soldier Brian Mills, and he asked for others in his platoon to get back in touch.

Since then, six contacted Bill and some even brought other friends who had served in the Army at the same time for the get-together at Upper Boat in Treforest.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” said Bill, who now lives in Tonteg, Pontypridd, with his wife Jo. “The table was covered in all our old photographs.

“We’ve now made so many arrangements and we are going to keep in touch and try to meet up again.

“It was lovely to reminisce, there was nothing else mentioned except the time we were in the jungle.”

Through the original story in the Echo in December, Bill was contacted by an old Cardiff school friend, Leonard Walker, who now lives near him in Tonteg.

“We see each other about three times a week now,” said Bill, a Cardiff City supporter. “From one picture going in the paper, the response has been great and now I’m so busy talking to people on the phone. I’ve met some new friends through this that I hadn’t known 50 years ago.

“If it hadn’t been for the Echo, we may never have all got in touch.”

Published in Reunited
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