World War II Veteran Helped Girl In France, Reunites After 78 Years

World Wars' story has always been fascinating despite being dark. There are so many human interest stories that keep popping-up timely. In another story, this time the past came together in the future. A 99-year-old veteran, who fed a French girl during the Second World War reunited with her today after 78 years.

The story began somewhat this way, a 21-year-old man, while moving through Normandy, 14 days after D-Day in June 1944, spotted a 14-year-old girl staring at him for the food he was eating. 

The girl was staring at him, while he ate. The 21-year-old man Reg Pye gave his evening meal - a slice of bread with jam and a tin of pilchards- to her. The girl soon took it and ran away to eat it.⁠ The next morning the girl left him a half-filled mess tin with milk and a handwritten note on the back of a picture of herself. On founding the note, Reg Pye kept the note in his wallet ever since.⁠

World War 2 Veteran Reunites With Girl

Today, nearly 78 years after their first meeting, Reg Pye reunited with the girl, who has been identified as Huguette, now 92. They both met in France, Pye showed her the picture he kept and once again gave her another jam sandwich. The pair also celebrated the reunion with their extended families and drank champagne. 

On meeting Huguette, Pye said, "Nice to see you again after such a long time. We got older but we're still the same. The memory of my very brief encounter with this young girl will stay with me forever."

Pye further added, "In the bleakest of times this bit of human interaction made a huge mark on my life, I have carried her picture in my wallet for 78 years always hoping we might meet again."

Today people could possibly listen to this story because of Paul Cook, a volunteer from Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Cook started a social media campaign after hearing the story. He said, "There are no words to describe how elated I am that Reg has found Huguette, this is like a Hollywood blockbuster and I wouldn't be surprised if this beautiful story was made into a film."

A 99-year-old veteran Reg Pye served as served with the Royal Engineers as a driver carrying sappers, mines, and ammunition during the Battle of Normandy.

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