Army pals meet by chance 70 years after serving

Joe Ingram, left, and Arthur Symes met by chance at a Blind Veterans UK rehabilitation centre in North Wales

Two army veterans met again by chance after not seeing each other for 70 years.

Arthur Symes, 89, from Hull, and Joe Ingram, 94, from Newcastle, served together as wireless operators in the East Yorkshire Regiment in Malaysia in the 1950s.

Both separately booked for a week's holiday at the Blind Veterans UK rehabilitation centre in Llandudno, Conwy county, and were reunited when another veteran realised he had chatted to two people who served in the same regiment and introduced them.

Mr Symes, who served between 1953 and 1955, said: "I just couldn't believe it - I was in shock."

He added: "I joined the company just as Joe was leaving but we crossed over and did some patrols together as signalmen out in Malaya.

"It was very emotional, I've never felt anything like it in my life. It was a very nice feeling, I was so happy to see him again."

The pair had served in Kluang in Malaysia as part of their National Service during the Malayan Emergency - a war fought between the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA) and British, Federation of Malaya and Commonwealth forces.

The MNLA fought for independence and to establish a communist state.

Mr Ingram, who served between 1951 and 1953, said: "I never expected to see Arthur or anyone from my company all these years later.

"It was brilliant to see him and great to talk about our time in Malaya and the other men we served with.

"I enjoyed my time in Malaya but part of that was probably because I didn't have to go into the jungle where it was a bit hairier."

Arthur Symes served as a wireless operator in the East Yorkshire Regiment in Malaysia in the 1950s

The pair said they were both grateful to the charity for their help after they had started to lose their sight.

Mr Ingram said his eyesight problems had begun four years ago.

"It was extremely difficult because around the same time I lost my wife. I couldn't drive anymore and also couldn't read," he said.

"It can be lonely living by myself, but when I go to the charity's centre in North Wales I'm surrounded by people and it's so nice to have the company."

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