Hero’s family traced ‘because of an ice-cream’

When Wicklow man Brian Hughes stopped off in Groomsport to buy an ice-cream while on holiday, he had no idea how life changing it would prove to be.

Beside the freezer was a stack of out-of-date local newspapers.

His grandmother, Dorothy Tait, used to write a column for the County Down Spectator, and Brian thought he would buy one for old times’ sake.

“The girl in the shop said: ‘You do know that’s last week’s paper?’ And I said, oh that doesn’t matter. I’m buying it for sentimental reasons,” he told BBC News NI.

When the 74-year-old returned to his car, to his astonishment he recognised a picture at the top of the front page from a frame that sat above his late mother Beryl’s piano.

It was of RAF Sergeant John McCalla Tait, his mother’s cousin.

The 21-year-old from Holywood, known to his family as Jackie, was killed in action when his Halifax MKII was shot down near Zelhem, Holland, in 1943.

He had been piloting the plane and died alongside Sergeants Andrew Wilson and James Archibald Wilson.

As he read on there was another huge surprise in store.

Brian not only learned where his relative’s final resting place was, but that his grave was being cared for by a Dutch woman.

“I was just absolutely blown away.”

Nathalie te Wilt, 31, adopted Jackie’s grave and those who died alongside him in March this year. They are buried side-by-side in Doetinchem, Gelderland.

“I found it sad that the graves of these three young men were the only ones not yet adopted in the cemetery,” Nathalie told BBC News NI.

“It is important we remember these boys who sacrificed themselves and fought so hard for the freedoms we have now.”

Adopting a grave is a display of gratitude and remembrance.

“I take care of the graves and bring roses for them. I also light candles,” explained Nathalie.

“They deserve love and attention for everything they’ve done for us, for our ancestors and for the generations who will come after us.”

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, Nathalie was determined to find out more about the young County Down airman and to trace his family.

She knew he had studied medicine at Queen’s University and that he was the only son of John James Tait and Jane C. Tait, from Holywood in County Down.

With the help of friend Brenda Kelly, a former member of the Women’s Royal Air Force, they put out a local newspaper appeal.

“I was amazed by how Brian found out. It is like a little angel said come and read the newspaper,” Nathalie said.

Nathalie attributes her passion for WW2 to her grandfather.

“My grandad was in the war, he had to do forced labour. He taught his grandchildren to always have respect for those who fought for our freedom.”

In 2023 she became aware of the Netherlands War Graves Foundation and adopted six graves of a Lancaster squadron. Now she cares for nine – including Jackie’s.

After discovering what Nathalie had been doing, Brian was moved.

“It is an incredible feeling of how this person can be so dedicated,” Brian told BBC News NI.

“It’s such a wonderful human thing to do. It’s the best of humanity.”

Brian now plans to travel to the Netherlands with his wife Marion, to visit the grave and meet Nathalie.

“I am very excited to visit the grave and to see Nathalie and give her a hug.”

“My mother would be absolutely amazed that this is happening. She used to speak very fondly of Jackie, and he died so young and far from home,” he said.

“It really brings it home, the terrible sacrifice of war. But it also means the freedom that we have, and we must never forget that.”

For Brian, the whole experience of being connected with Nathalie and Jackie’s grave has been an emotional one. Remarkable too.

“I feel so blessed that I bought this paper. And that all this has come about because of an ice-cream.”