THEY had not seen each other for more than 60 years - until they were reunited through the pages of the Daily Echo.

War veteran Maurice Green was featured in the paper for notching up more than 40 years' service to the Poppy Appeal.

That evening when Jack Leach, 85, opened the Daily Echo at his home in Westwood Road, Southampton, he instantly recognised his former colleague from their days with the Territorial Army more than six decades ago.

Jack contacted us, we put the pair in touch - and they finally met at Romsey's Royal British Legion in Love Lane.

"We talked and talked and had a drink, and there were so many things to bring up," said Jack.

"It was just like two brothers meeting after so many years."

The pair first met in 1940 when they joined Southampton's Territorial Army.

They were then posted together to Shepton Mallet, Somerset, where Jack was a driver and Maurice was an orderly.

Jack was injured and hospitalised. When he came out his battalion had moved on, and that was the last he saw of many of them.

Nearly 65 years on, Maurice, of Wakeford Court, Romsey, was stunned to hear his old friend's voice again.

The 85-year-old said: "It was very good to see Jack again.

"I remembered him, though I didn't recognise him straight away, because people change.

"As soon as we started talking, I knew him.

"It was lovely, and we're definitely going to stay in touch."

Jack added: "Thank you so much to the Daily Echo for putting us back in touch again."