TWO Royal Marine war comrades living on opposite sides of the Atlantic and who last saw each other in 1947 met again last week, thanks to detective work by an Amesbury woman.
Jack Dwan (85) and Ken Blake (81) both joined the Royal Marines as bandsmen and became friends when they joined HMS Orion in 1942, en route to the war zones of the Mediterranean.
After surviving, as gunnery controllers, the horrendous naval and land bombardment battles fought around the Mediterranean, the two men parted company at the end of the war but kept in touch.
The last time they met was in 1947, when Jack became godfather to Ken's son.
Ken, who was born at the Dog and Gun public house in Netheravon, where his parents were licensees, eventually left the UK and headed for a new life in Canada.
Jack moved to Salisbury, married his wife Ruth and began a career with the Post Office.
It was his postal career that led the two musicians to finally meet again after 55 years.
During his service with the Post Office, Jack was one of the team that toured organisations giving talks on plans to introduce post codes.
When he spoke to members of the Oasis Club in Amesbury, among the audience was Ken's sister, Betty Andrews, who lives in South Mill Road, Amesbury.
When she knew her brother and his wife, Phyllis, were planning a holiday in the UK this year she asked Ken if he would like to meet up with relations and any old friends
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