NI veteran's emotional reunion

Veterans and widows make pilgrimages to the battlefields

A Northern Ireland veteran has had an emotional reunion with an Italian woman who befriended him during the Second World War.

Thomas James visited Marraddi in Italy to be reunited with his war-time friend Ada Roconi.

The 83-year-old from east Belfast was stationed there during the war.

He was able to make the trip thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund's Heroes Return programme.

The grant of £1,300 allowed Mr James, his wife Kathleen and daughter Iris to return to Italy last month, where he served as a private in the 133 Division of the Territorial Army.

Mr James is one of eight veterans receiving grants under the Heroes Return scheme.

I met Jack after the war and we got married in 1945. He was always reluctant to talk about this wartime experiences although we travelled back together a few times before he passed away in August 1999 Norah Campbell

Tuesday's round of grants, totalling £6,400, is allowing veterans, widows, wives and carers to make pilgrimages to the battlefields across Europe and beyond.

Mr James said he and his Italian friend had kept in touch, exchanging Christmas cards and presents every year.

However, it was only the second time he had been able to meet Ms Roconi.

"Ada was very good to me, she washed my uniform and looked after me," he said.

"I met up with her 15 years ago but couldn't afford to make the journey again until the Heroes Return programme was set up.

"Going back brought back all the memories of the war and it was very moving for Ada and I to meet again."

'Remember the sacrifices'

Briedge Gadd, one of the Lottery Fund's Northern Ireland board members, said there had been tremendous public support for the Heroes Return Scheme.

"Helping veterans to return to their theatres of action is a fitting tribute by lottery players to the sacrifices which these men made during the Second World War," she said.

Another beneficiary, Norah Campbell returned to Normandy in June for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.

Mrs Campbell, from Belfast, was there to remember the sacrifices of her late husband Jack, who served with the 591 Antrim Parachute Squadron of the Royal Engineers.

She said: "I met Jack after the war and we got married in 1945. He was always reluctant to talk about this wartime experiences although we travelled back together a few times before he passed away in August 1999."