London, Aug 3 (IANS): An 87-year-old World War II veteran from Britain was shocked when he ran into a fellow soldier who he thought had died in battle 68 years ago.

Stan Hodge last saw Bert Haddrell - also 87 - in 1944 when they fought together in Normandy, France, The Sun reported.

Haddrell was blown up by a mortar bomb in a battle for Maltot village, and received such severe stomach injuries that Hodge thought he had died.

"One minute we were talking and the next he was blown up. All hell broke loose. Blokes disappeared all the time during the war, and I thought Bert was dead," Hodge said.

But unknown to Hodge, the injured Haddrell was rescued by paramedics and taken to Scotland to recover.

The two soldiers, who served together in the 4th Battalion The Dorset Regiment, were reunited at the War and Peace show in Kent in July.

"I recognised his uniform and the thought came to me, 'You look like Bert', so I went up to him and asked," Hodge said.

"I couldn't believe it was him. Could you after 68 years? It was a moment of joy to see him again. We have made plans to stay in touch," he said.

Haddrell said it was "absolutely wonderful" to have met his fellow soldier.