Two army pals who have not seen each other for more than 50 years are set for a reunion - thanks to the Telegraph & Argus.

Fred Barnes, from Thack-ley, and Stan Archer, from Scarborough, have got in touch with each other after Mr Archer put an appeal in the T&A's readers' letters page.

Fred and Stan served together in Egypt and Palestine in the 15/19th Kings Royal Hussar regiment during the Second World War, but lost touch after Fred was de-mobbed.

Fred, 81, said: "We met in Egypt and got a bit pally, we went around a bit together. Then he went to another troop in the regiment and I got promoted to Sergeant, so we didn't see much of each other after that. It was a passing friendship.

"He's 5ft 1in, and I'm 6ft 1in, so we called him 'Titch'."

Fred heard of Stan's search after he was called by friends, neighbours and members of Thackley Cricket Club who had seen the letter, published last Thursday.

He gave Stan a call and they have now arranged to meet up in Scarborough.

Stan, 79, was detached from the regiment to serve in the Palestine police on mounted patrols.

"Fred was de-mobbed before me and I never saw or heard of him again until I saw him at a bus stop in Saltaire in 1952," he said.

"I was waiting for a bus on my way back to Manchester and he had just got off one.

"We only had time to shout across the road when my bus came."

Stan remembered that 'long, lanky Fred' used to entertain his comrades with his mouth organ. He particularly remembers Fred playing the Song of the Rose.

Stan started searching for Fred after completing a history of the regiment and becoming a member of the Palestine Veterans Associa-tion, based at Eden Camp near Malton.

Stan said he was "gob-smacked" when he got the call from his friend just five days after sending the letter to the T&A. "He was very much the same Fred on the telephone," he said.

"I can't wait for him to come to Scarborough to give him the full treatment. I was very happy to speak to him."