DAME Vera Lynn's hundredth birthday celebrations have sent a music-loving war veteran on a trip down memory lane.
Leslie Butler, of Sedgefield, was fighting the Japanese in Burma as a lance corporal in the British Army during the Second World War when the Forces' Sweetheart stopped off on her tour.
The pair's paths narrowly missed crossing and it was only through word-of-mouth that Mr Butler - out in the field - knew the star was close by.
As he observed the nation mark Dame Vera's milestone birthday this month, the 95-year-old was transported back even further to his teens when he picked up one of her records for the first time.
He said: "I bought records every Saturday and one Saturday in 1939 before war started I came across Vera Lynn’s new record [My Prayer].
"It was on DECCA and cost two shillings in old money."
Since then and following the close call in 1944 the jazz enthusiast has continued to listen to Dame Vera's songs.
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