THELMA Lewis was overcome with emotion when she read in the Argus about a Dutch town which annually honours a serviceman whose life was cut tragically short during the Second World War.

Her strong feelings were understandable - because it is her father, Flight Ser-geant Henry John Hiscox, whose sacrifice is never forgotten by the people of Beesel, in the Netherlands.

Earlier this month we reported how schoolchildren, teachers, and residents are led by the burgermeester (mayor) in an annual remembrance service at the airman's grave.

Barrie Davies, a retired British pilot who lives in the area, told us about the moving ceremony and how efforts to trace his two Newport-born children or grandchildren had proved unsuccessful.

Following an appeal in the Argus, we received a number of calls from people who remembered the family but were delighted when Sandra Lewis got in touch to tell us that her mother-in-law, Thelma, was the airman's daughter and lived around the corner from our office in Maesglas.

The 73-year-old, who has four children, six grandchildren and five great- grandchildren, was told about the story by her youngest daughter, Amanda.

Widow Mrs Lewis was taken aback when she read the article. "I didn't know exactly where he was buried and it was such a shock but I was thrilled. I was so proud."

She was just nine when her 35-year-old father, a tail gunner with 75 Squadron RAF, was shot down while in a Lancaster over Holland in June 1944.

She still remembers hearing the terrible news, and as well as the emotional trauma bears a physical scar from the time.

"I was in the park and I remember my mum came running up to tell me and I fell off the swing and broke my arm. It was a such a shock - I idolised my father and he idolised me. He called me his Little Angel. He was a marvellous dad."

Her mother Eileen was left a widow with her two children, Thelma, and her younger son, Ted.

"It was my one wish all my life to go to my father's grave," said Mrs Lewis, who added her grandparents had visited the cemetery after the war.

She hoped her son and his wife would now be able to go there. Sadly, her brother Ted died last year. "He would have loved it. He was so proud of my father."

She was extremely grateful to the people of Beesel and intended to write to thank them for caring for her father's grave and keeping his memory alive more than 60 years after he was killed.

The final resting place of Mr Hiscox is the only Commonwealth War Grave in the old Beesel graveyard. He was buried with honours by members of the Dutch resistance after the liberation.