A Dutch family, who this week adopted the grave of a fallen World War II soldier in a bid to keep his name alive, are trying to trace his relatives who are believed to have roots in Rutherglen.
On Monday, nurse Judith Princen and her family adopted the grave in Holland of Private William Bryce Moore, who served as a rifleman with the Cameronians 9th Battalion.
He was killed in action on November 1, 1944, aged just 20.
Judith knows that young soldier William lived in Greenock – and that, at some stage of her life, his mother, Christine Bryce, resided in Rutherglen.
It’s the third war grave to be adopted by the Dutch family, who this week contacted the Reformer to appeal for help in tracing members of William’s family.
“Our motivation in adopting a few war graves is the fact that we
don’t want their names to die with them,” explained care home nurse, Judith.
“That, and the fact I was born on May 5, our Liberty Day, makes me curious as to who all these fallen soldiers are.
“Before William, we already adopted two graves. The search went so well and it brought us so much love and joy that we wanted to adopt another soldier and give him a face.
“He died on November 1, 1944, giving his life in order to save ours, in the Second World War.
“William was only 20 years old when he died.”
In appealing to Reformer readers for information about the young soldier, Judith said: “If we are extremely lucky, someone will know someone, or have a parent, uncle, aunt, grandfather or grandmother who knows someone that knows the family we are searching for.
“We would love to come in contact with them, so they can tell us more about who William was, what he looked like – and maybe even share a photo with us.”
She says she would rather see William’s face before paying her first visit to the resting place
she and her family have adopted.
If you can help Judith piece together information about the young Scots soldier whose grave she and her family have adopted, please email: news@rutherglenreformer.co.uk with your name and contact number.
