Nuclear test veteran Douglas Hern (77), from Moulton, has a new pal thanks to a case of mistaken identity.
Fellow Royal Navy veteran Barry Harrison (73), who emigrated to New Zealand, was looking up an old shipmate called Douglas Hern – and found a different man with the same name, who served on a shore base, HMS Revolution, during the Christmas Island tests.
As well as a shared military history, the men have their birthdays on the same day and celebrated together last week after meeting for the first time.
Photo: SG110913-211TW