A Dutch museum is looking for the family of a Potters Bar war hero who was shot down in the Netherlands during the second-world war. 

Flight engineer Sgt. George Edward Lewis was killed in action along with his fellow six-man Lancaster bomber crew on the outskirts of frontier village of Kloosterhaar after completing a bombing mission in March 1943. 

The museum called Dorpsarchief Kloosterhaar is researching the life of Sgt. Lewis who was born in Potters Bar and intend to dedicate a section of their museum to the war hero.   

The Lancaster crashed on farmland owned by a local farmer named Siewert Biewenga, who later found a leather glove of crew member Flight Engineer George Edward Lewis.  

After the war the farmer traced the Lewis family to Potters Bar and returned the glove to his parents Lily and Charles Lewis.  

Times Series: The farmer and his wife with the parents of George Lewis at Clacton-on-sea on 23 may 1951The farmer and his wife with the parents of George Lewis at Clacton-on-sea on 23 may 1951

This was the beginning of a friendship that lasted many years.  Sadly, over the years the families lost contact. 

The museum director Freddie Ekkel has managed to trace the farmer’s daughter Edy Biewenga who would like to re-establish contact with the Lewis family. 

Freddie said: “After the crash farmer Biewenga found a leather glove with Sgt. Lewis’ name written on the inside.  It took him years to trace the family in the hope to return the glove to his family.  He eventually succeeded and he personally took the glove to England to give it to George’s parents Lily and Charles Lewis.  Farmer Biewenga was accompanied by his wife Duurke. 

“By all accounts it was a very emotional trip and meeting. They even enjoyed a day trip to Clacton-on-sea together on 23 May 1951, along with visits to central London. 

“The Lewis family were so pleased to have been able to receive the glove from their son. 

“We are in contact with the farmer’s daughter Edy who remembers these meetings that took place in the 1950’s.  Edy is now a pensioner and has a number of remarkable photographs and small artefacts of these meetings. 

“She would like to show these to the Lewis family. 

“Charles and Lily Lewis had ten children.  Sadly, three of them including George were killed in action. The Lewis family lived on Southgate Road during the war. 

“We in the Netherlands are eternally grateful to those brave men who gave their lives for our freedom we still enjoy today.”  

You can contact Freddie at freddieekkel@dorpsarchiefkloosterhaar.com