Mission to trace family of wounded Royal Ulster Rifles soldier

An empty morphine ampule and an unfired bullet were also found by the home owner in the village of Blitterswijck – close to the border with Germany and around 60 miles south of Arnhem.

The uniform trousers belonged to Rifleman H Ravenscroft (service number 14746461) who researchers believe had been involved in liberating the village from the Germans in late November 1944 – operating as a signaller

The 2nd Battalion of the Royal Ulster Rifles was successful in clearing an enemy pocket of resistance that was holding a bridgehead west of the River Maas in the face of the Allied advance.

Not much is known about Rifleman Ravenscroft but a Royal Artillery captain, Henry Shearer Taylor, was awarded the Military Cross for his heroism in helping the wounded soldier to safety and then manning the observation post under enemy fire for a further four days.

Andy Glenfield, who manages the Second World War in Northern Ireland, has been asked to help the Dutch home owner return the soldier’s belongings to his surviving family.

“It would be wonderful if we could get in touch with the family of this man,” he said.

“The fact that there is a broken morphine ampule shows he had been seriously wounded.

“His circumstances were obviously very difficult as he dropped a cap badge and a 9mm bullet – probably from a Sten gun.

“My initial Facebook post has 120 shares which means it has had a lot of coverage.”

In November 1944, the attic of the house in Blitterswijck would have been a prime location for a military observation post as the castle tower, church tower and local mill had all been destroyed during fierce fighting.

Evidence of shell damage to the roof can still be seen to this day.

“I had been contacted by [Royal Ulster Rifles blogger] Paul Scanlon, who was originally approached by the home owner, and the more information he sends me the more intriguing the story becomes.”

The people of Blitterswijck have never forgotten the sacrifice of the Ulster soldiers and others who freed them from German occupation – celebrating their freedom with an open-air ceremony in the village very November.

“Everywhere in Holland I have been there is this huge respect for the Allies,” Mr Glenfield said.

“I find the people of Holland tremendous and there is a fantastic Northern Ireland connection.”

Anyone with information about the family of Rifleman H Ravenscroft can contact Mr Glenfield through the Second World War in Northern Ireland Facebook page here