Lovers who met during world war II reunite after 72 years

15:12 - 16 February 2016

A 93-year-old World War II veteran has reunited with his wartime sweetheart more than 70 years after they last said goodbye.

A 93-year-old World War II veteran has reunited with his wartime sweetheart more than 70 years after they last said goodbye. UPI news reported.

The lovebirds had met just before the World War II D-Day on 6 June 1944 in London.

Norwood Thomas was a 21-year-old paratrooper when he stumbled upon Joyce Morris, who was 17. After meeting in London, the couple were together for several months until they were separated by war.

Thomas had to leave for Normandy and returned to the US soon after the war ended.

After the war ended he returned to his native America but the pair wrote letters to each other, Mr Thomas even asking his beloved to come to the US and marry him.

But young Joyce misunderstood his letter somehow and thought he had fallen in love with someone else.

She stopped writing and both she and Mr Thomas eventually married other people.

Ms Morris moved to Australia with her new husband but their marriage ended in divorce after 30 years.

Mr Thomas' wife also died in 2001.

Despite the time that had passed, Ms Morris never forgot about her American paratrooper and last year she asked one of her sons to find Mr Thomas online.

After they found him, Ms Morris's son got in touch with Mr Thomas and the two love birds spoke on Skype, with the help of their children.

When their story went viral, people contributed money for Mr Thomas to travel to Australia to meet his long-lost sweetheart again.

Before he embarked on the 10,500-mile trip, Mr Thomas told The Virginian-Pilot: "I'd rather die travelling to Australia than live sitting around at home wondering 'what if?'

"I'm just looking forward to seeing her smile" and "giving her a squeeze".

After they met, Mr Thomas told Channel 10: "This is about the most wonderful thing that could have happened to me."

Ms Morris, now 88 and struggling with failing eyesight, laughed, adding: "We're going to have a wonderful fortnight."