Just one week after Ernest Cameron-McIntosh, who turned 100 this week, and his wife Barbara, now 94, met, he was sent to serve his country on the other side of the world.
But their romance blossomed throughout wartime.
And after a lifetime that has seen them welcome children, grandchildren and great grandchildren into the world, their love for one another is still burning strong.
Barbara said: “He said he fell in love with my eyes and I fell in love with his eyes.”
The couple met one night while she was in the Women’s Land Army and he was serving in the Army.
“The following week he was posted to Burma,” said Barbara. “He went there for two and a half years.”
But being half the world away from each other did not stop the two courting – they just had to do it by post.
More than 70 years later, the couple still have those love letters stored in their house in London Road, Carlisle.
On Monday Ernest celebrated his 100th birthday with Barbara by his side.
The family organised a celebratory lunch at the Crown Hotel, Wetheral, with 19 family members.
Ernest and Barbara have three children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren, most of whom still live in Cumbria.
His latest great grandchild, who is just 11 weeks old, has been christened after him as Harry Ernest Cameron-McIntosh.
Family means everything to Ernest, who loves nothing more than his relatives visiting and seeing his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
After living for a century, Ernest still has his wits about him and is in remarkable good health.
When asked how he felt at 100, he said: “I feel marvelous.”
His granddaughter, Isla Cameron-McIntosh, 22, of Wetheral, said: “He’s incredible, he really is. He’s still with it now.
“He’s always asking after all his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“He wants all his family there with him all the time. Whenever you go visit him he’s always so happy.”
Ernest’s daughter, Liz Gourlay, said: “It’s always been family – he’s never really had any hobby or anything. I’ve never had a wrong word with him.”
At school Ernest was the second fastest runner and played rugby and cricket.
“I could throw the cricket ball further than anyone else,” he said proudly.
Ernest was called up in 1940 and saw three years of army service working in telecoms in Northern Ireland and three more in Burma and India.
After he returned from war, he married Barbara at Kendal Parish Church in November 1946. The couple moved to Carlisle and Ernest took up a job working on the railways.
He worked as a freight guard on the Port Carlisle railway and the Waverley Line and loved the work. He even had a train on the top of his 100th birthday cake.
Ernest revealed that the secret to both a long life and marriage is having a good life and being happy.
When asked what he wanted for his 100th birthday, Ernest had requested a glass of whisky.
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