Liberation Route Marker 004

Liberation Route Europe is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. With hundreds of sites and stories in nine European countries, the route links the main regions along the advance of the Allied Forces in 1943-1945.
The entire route consists of themed routes that can be travelled by by hiking, walking, cycling and car. These routes pass numerous historical and interesting sites and tell stories from a multitude of perspectives that were important in the final phase of World War II.
Many routes feature listening spots, offering the opportunity to listen to a historical story at a location. In addition, many ‘Vectors of Memory’ have been placed, indicating that the passer-by is on one of the Liberation Routes.
The routes can be found on the Liberation Route Europe website or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

The Vanished Grave
War is cruel and costs countless lives. For those left behind, it is important to know where their loved ones died and where they are buried. But war is also chaotic. And in that chaos, even the dead can disappear. The family of Private Eric Holmes were told of his death. But where was he buried?

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.

Audiospot - The vanished grave

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Liberationroute.com
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze (1, 2), Peter Schipper (3)