Lloyd Allaby of Bloomfield, N.B., says before he sailed for England in 1942 he eavesdropped on older companions for tips on how to get along with Englishwomen. The main advice seemed to be to keep nylons handy. He surreptitiously bought three pairs.

His first encounter was with British girls whom he overheard asking whether anyone had nylons. He went to his kit, put his three pairs under his tunic and approached one of the girls.

Allaby continues: “When I brought them out, she quickly snatched them and said, ‘I’ll see you later.’ It is now 43 years later and I am thinking that if she doesn’t show up soon it will be too much later.”