Firstly from the sound of it, both you and your son would like contact with the children.
So do you have their address ? Could you write to your ex Dil. Be honest and say you would love to be able to have some contact with them, be it via social media or a meet up etc. Perhaps explain what it would mean to you. Be careful not to get drawn into fault and blame of split. After all whatever caused the breakup, should have no bearing on having some form of relationship with your grandchildren. I do wish you well and hope that you manage to negotiate a middle ground, the first step being to show respect by speaking to her first, not directly to the children.