It seems fate has bought together two unsuspecting St Albans best friends in a set of strange historical coincidences which have left them gobsmacked.

Herts Advertiser: Alf Davey, a Burma Railway POW veteran from Bungay has died. Picture: PAUL HEYES/LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPHAlf Davey, a Burma Railway POW veteran from Bungay has died. Picture: PAUL HEYES/LANCASHIRE TELEGRAPH (Image: Archant)

Diane Pickup and Natalie McEvoy were introduced by the St Albans National Childbirth Trust (NCT) when they were pregnant, five years ago.

Natalie’s daughter and Diane’s son were born two days apart, in August 2012, and the families have remained close ever since.

When Diane’s grandfather, Alf Davey, passed away she shared an obituary of his life on Facebook which Natalie happened to read and clock similarities with her own granddad, Jack Blanchflower.

The friend’s grandfathers were both part of the 4th Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment and also captured by Japan in World War Two. They were both put to work on the infamous Death Railway.

Herts Advertiser: Jack Blanchflower on his 90th birthdayJack Blanchflower on his 90th birthday (Image: Archant)

While slaving, the two prisoners both suffered bouts of malaria.

When they were liberated by American troops in 1945, the two soldiers went separate ways, meeting up only once more for Alf to show Jack and his daughter, Natalie’s mum, around the Blackburn Telegraph where Alf worked.

In another strange link, Natalie’s maiden name is Davey - the same surname as Alf.

A representative of the 4th Royal Norfolk Regiment, Patrick Budds, attended both of the men’s funerals - Alf and Jack died both aged 97.

Herts Advertiser: Left to right: Natalie and Diane with their children.Left to right: Natalie and Diane with their children. (Image: Archant)

The two men’s granddaughters - Natalie and Diane - both happened to move down south to St Albans, were paired up in antenatal class, and become unwitting friends.

Natalie said she was drawn to Diane: “The main aspect of it for us is that Diane and I have become extremely close. She is one of the people I have kept most in touch with for five years.

“There was something about her after the first meeting, I said, ‘I’ll keep in touch with her’. And to find out that we have four generations of connections. It’s completely unbelievable, we have been left open mouthed about it. It’s amazing, isn’t it?

“It was one of those spine tingling moments - I can’t believe we have so much shared history. Nothing would surprise me anymore, both of us have been in disbelief, it’s phenomenal.”