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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Veteran is to meet 'dead' comrade | Veteran is to meet 'dead' comrade |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two World War II veterans who served with the Eighth Army are to meet for the first time in 67 years. | Two World War II veterans who served with the Eighth Army are to meet for the first time in 67 years. |
| Harry Finlayson, 93, is due to collect a veterans' medal, but will also see Gerry Solomon from Holbrook, Suffolk, who had believed Mr Finlayson was dead. | Harry Finlayson, 93, is due to collect a veterans' medal, but will also see Gerry Solomon from Holbrook, Suffolk, who had believed Mr Finlayson was dead. |
| Mr Finlayson who lives near Bridgwater in Somerset was listed as missing presumed dead and "buried" in Libya. | Mr Finlayson who lives near Bridgwater in Somerset was listed as missing presumed dead and "buried" in Libya. |
| His daughter wrote to Tank magazine to contact his old comrades and received a reply from Mr Solomon's daughter. | His daughter wrote to Tank magazine to contact his old comrades and received a reply from Mr Solomon's daughter. |
| Mr Solomon said he was "stunned" to hear his friend was alive. | Mr Solomon said he was "stunned" to hear his friend was alive. |
| Both Mr Finlayson and Mr Solomon, who reached the rank of sergeant, are due to meet for a private reunion on Wednesday before being presented with HM Armed Forces Veterans Badges in Colchester on Thursday evening. | |
| The driver said we were running out of petrol so I said: 'There's our lines, go like mad' Harry Finlayson | The driver said we were running out of petrol so I said: 'There's our lines, go like mad' Harry Finlayson |
| "We had a chat on the phone for about an hour and a half and he said: 'I thought you were dead'," said Mr Finlayson. | "We had a chat on the phone for about an hour and a half and he said: 'I thought you were dead'," said Mr Finlayson. |
| Mr Finlayson was born into a military family and enlisted in the Army in 1934. | Mr Finlayson was born into a military family and enlisted in the Army in 1934. |
| He served with the Eighth Army in the North Africa Campaign and, during a battle on 24 November 1941, his tank's radio was damaged and he did not hear an order to withdraw. | He served with the Eighth Army in the North Africa Campaign and, during a battle on 24 November 1941, his tank's radio was damaged and he did not hear an order to withdraw. |
| He carried on fighting until his tank was disabled and he was captured. | He carried on fighting until his tank was disabled and he was captured. |
| He was reported "missing presumed killed in action". | He was reported "missing presumed killed in action". |
| "We were great friends in the desert but on that day we went into battle and my radio was gone off and we were told to retire, but I didn't hear the retirement and I went straight on into the German lines," Mr Finlayson said. | "We were great friends in the desert but on that day we went into battle and my radio was gone off and we were told to retire, but I didn't hear the retirement and I went straight on into the German lines," Mr Finlayson said. |
| "The driver said we were running out of petrol so I said: 'There's our lines, go like mad'. | "The driver said we were running out of petrol so I said: 'There's our lines, go like mad'. |
| Stalag 344 | Stalag 344 |
| "But one of their tanks hit my tank and blew the engine right out of it and we were surrounded by Germans, so I was taken prisoner." | "But one of their tanks hit my tank and blew the engine right out of it and we were surrounded by Germans, so I was taken prisoner." |
| Following his capture, Mr Finlayson was sent to Greece, then Italy, and later marched to Germany. | Following his capture, Mr Finlayson was sent to Greece, then Italy, and later marched to Germany. |
| He remained a prisoner of war for the rest of the war in Stalag 344. | He remained a prisoner of war for the rest of the war in Stalag 344. |
| Gerry Solomon served under Field Marshal Montgomery (centre) | Gerry Solomon served under Field Marshal Montgomery (centre) |
| He was finally released by the Americans in 1945. Following liberation and discharge, he returned to civilian life and had no contact with his friend. | He was finally released by the Americans in 1945. Following liberation and discharge, he returned to civilian life and had no contact with his friend. |
| Mr Solomon volunteered for the Army in 1939. After training, he joined the 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment in 1940. | Mr Solomon volunteered for the Army in 1939. After training, he joined the 5th Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment in 1940. |
| He saw action in the North Africa Campaign under Field Marshal Montgomery, including at El Alamein and the relief of Tubruk. | He saw action in the North Africa Campaign under Field Marshal Montgomery, including at El Alamein and the relief of Tubruk. |
| Mr Solomon saw further action in Tunisia, before being returned to the UK in preparation for the D-Day landings. | Mr Solomon saw further action in Tunisia, before being returned to the UK in preparation for the D-Day landings. |
| He served in north-west Europe until August 1944, when his tank was hit and he was injured. | He served in north-west Europe until August 1944, when his tank was hit and he was injured. |
| He returned to the UK and finished his service at the end of 1945. | He returned to the UK and finished his service at the end of 1945. |
| Following discharge, he too settled back into civilian life, always believing his good friend Mr Finlayson to have been killed in action in 1941. | Following discharge, he too settled back into civilian life, always believing his good friend Mr Finlayson to have been killed in action in 1941. |