War is cruel and makes many victims. It is important for the surviving relatives to know where their loved ones were killed and where they are buried. In some cases certain graves remain missing.
Lost lives
War means chaos. Not only soldiers die, the are also many casualties among citizens. In the chaos of a war people get lost. People lose their homes and even loved ones can get lost. Even dead people get lost. The family of soldier Eric Holmes got the message of his dead. But … where was he buried?
Mook
On September 17 1944, the Americans captured Mook three days later the Germans counter-attacked, and succeeded in retaking the village in the afternoon. That same evening, Mook changed hands again, recaptured with the support of the British XXX Corps. Outside the Catholic Church in Mook, Eric Holmes, of the 1st Battallion of the Suffolk Regiment, is buried. Records of the location of Private Holmes’ grave were lost. With the help of someone from Beek, the family spent more than 40 years searching for his last resting place. It was at last found, on the south side of the church. Private Holmes is still buried there.
