A YEAR after a Carlisle-born World War II hero's grave was adopted by a Dutch couple, his family has said another sincere 'thank you'.

In March 2023 Rita and Herman Harmsen adopted four graves belonging to Pilot Officer Robert Goulding and three of his '10 squadron' crewmates at Hardenberg General Cemetery.

Through their own research, Rita and Herman were able to uncover that Robert, who was born in Carlisle in 1920, was killed when his aircraft was shot down over Coevorden, Holland, whilst fighting against the repressive Nazi regime. 

The pair then sought to find Robert's family to explain how they were maintaining and respecting his grave, and in April 2023 they were connected to Robert's nephews Robert Neil and Martyn Nicholas Thomson. 

Robert, who is named after his uncle, visited the grave in Hardenberg in 1997 with his family and a year after being connected with Rita and Herman he shared his first correspondence with the Dutch couple.

He said: "On behalf of our family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you both for the care you take in caring for the grave of our late uncle.

"It is a great comfort to us that the inheritance is in good hands.

"With my wife Christine, son David, and daughter Gemma I visited the grave in 1997 and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the cemetery and the area surrounding the headstone."

After being connected to Robert's family, Rita and Herman pledged to maintain the Pilot Offcier's grave and honour him whenever they can, including on May 4 2024, Holland's Remembrance Day.

They said: "We are so happy to know that there is still a family of Robert out there. 

"We would like to honor his name and that of his crew members because they have fought against the enemy, and fought so that we may live in freedom. 

"What we will do is lay flowers on special days, such as birthdays, death anniversaries, and remembrance days.

"Next week it is Remembrance Day in the Netherlands, on this day we commemorate the people who have fallen for our freedom.

"On this day the population will lay a flower, we will lay a poppy flower wreath. The symbol of remembrance."