Ex-Service men meet after 42 years thanks to 'Waggoners' website

Chris Gadsden, 61 and George Aitken B.E.M, 63 served three years together in Leidenau, Germany, at what had once been Hitler's 'Master Race' Camp, in the 60's.

Chris was a young 17 year old private in 1964 when he found himself stationed in the same platoon as Lance Corporal George Aitken, with the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) 12 Company.

Chris said: "I was very shy back then but 12 company was like a small community that thrived on its closeness between those that served there, and it was a unique experience."

George was Chris's senior ranking officer, who Chris describes as being, "a hard man, but with the same token a fair man."

He added: "I was always dropping myself in the nasty smelly stuff but George had his own way of dealing with the likes of me - a little whisper in the ear most of the time - and if that didn't work it was down to the gym for a little spar in the boxing ring. George took me under his wing and helped turn me into the man I am today."

George took up the story: "It was one of my tasks in life to teach the quiet, shy Chris the ways of the regular army. I was a few years older than him and back then things were different to how they are today, these lads had to be taught quickly that they were the fighting force that in the case of war, England would depend on them. There was no easy way, if they stepped out of line they were taught a hard lesson. I think Chris landed up in the boxing ring on a couple of occasions, to be guided by the finer arts of man management."

They became firm friends but in 1967, they departed company, went their separate ways and lost all contact.

Chris returned to England, and spent the next twenty years being posted to various locations around the world, which included time in Northern Ireland, and was eventually discharged in 1987.

Meanwhile George married his Danish wife Inger, who he met whilst serving in Germany; they had a Son, Christian followed by two grandchildren.

In 1983 George was presented with a British Empire Medal, having been recognised by the Queens Birthday Honours List, and continued serving in the army until his discharge in 1986 when he and his family settled in Kinross, Scotland.

Chris, who is married to Marcia with two children aged four and six, had various jobs after leaving the army but was disabled in 2005 when his leg "collapsed" and he had to have a knee replacement.

This left him with time on his hands and he discovered the 'Wicked Kippers' internet cafe close to his home in Bexhill and, with the help of owner Bob, in September last year he found the 'Waggoners' website' (an association formed of the Royal Corps of Transport, RASC and the Royal Logistics Corps) and Chris eagerly began searching for anyone he had served with in the 60's.

He said: "It's like anything in life if you have the time and patience things start to happen. I looked at pictures other 'Waggoners' had posted on the forums and there was a picture of George and I knew I just had to make contact with him."

He promptly sent George an email and was delighted when a few days later he received a reply.

George said: "I'd only just discovered the internet world and it was so nice to receive an email from Chris. The last time I'd seen him all those years ago he was a young, shy guy."

After months of communicating with each other via emails, George made the journey to Bexhill where he has been a guest at Chris and Marcia's home and, he will be returning the favour when Chris takes his family to visit George's home later in the year.

George added: "Forty two years have faded away, we are in each others company and it seems like only yesterday that we were together, thanks to the power of the Internet and Waggoners."

For more information on Waggoners visit the website at: www.waggoners.co.uk