War grave appeal reunites Bolton family of fallen WWII soldier

David Yates, from near Tonge Moor, found two long-lost cousins by responding to an appeal for photographs, which will be proudly placed on a war grave in the Netherlands.

He had never met his great uncle Walter Green, originally from Tyldesley.

David’s newspaper cutting. (Image: David Yates)

However, after seeing a BBC North West Tonight appeal looking for relatives of soldiers buried overseas, David realised one of the names listed could only belong to his family.

He said: “I thought there can’t be two Walter Greens from Tyldesley, it had to be my great uncle.”

Walter Green, who died aged just 39 in 1945, is buried at Venray War Cemetery in the Netherlands.

It comes as the cemetery is looking for photographs of three others who come from Bolton, buried at Venray.

Walters grave, now with a new picture. (Image: Venray War Cemetery.)

Photographs of the other war heroes have been found by their families, all except Private Cecil Wood, Son of Thomas and Alice Wood.

Tom van Mierlo, Chairman of Venray War Cemetery, said: “We still live in freedom today because of the sacrifices that these 693 men, and many others, made back then.

“Even for that reason alone, they deserve to have their memory preserved, especially today, because those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Volunteers have been working there to trace families and place photographs on soldiers’ graves, giving them a face as well as a name.

David Yates. (Image: David Yates)

David explained how the appeal sent him delving into family history, uncovering a forgotten newspaper cutting that had been kept in a box for decades.

He added: “My grandmother had a picture of Walter in her bedroom.

 “We even found a letter he sent her in June 1940 saying he was hoping to come and visit.”

Walter had spent some of the Second World War as a prisoner of war.

After being wounded, he eventually died from his injuries. Until now, his grave had no photograph.

The Venray graves. (Image: Venray War Cemetery)

David said: “The man in Holland who looks after the grave told me there were people interested in Walter, but they didn’t have a picture of him.”

The discoveries didn’t stop there.

Through the appeal, David learned he had two cousins he never knew existed, including Walter’s granddaughter, who had never seen a photograph of her grandfather before.

“She’s absolutely over the moon,” said David.

A cross which separates some graves. (Image: Venray War Cemetery)

David believes the care shown by Dutch volunteers is a powerful reminder of the legacy left behind by Allied soldiers.

He added: “I think a lot of this comes from gratitude. Tending to these graves is their way of saying thank you.”

Walter was one of nine children, with family roots stretching from St Helens.

David’s own family later moved to Bolton, where he grew up in Breightmet and now lives near Tonge Moor.

David added: “Of course, there are probably relatives out there who still don’t know who he was,” David added. “But now his story is being told again.”