Stonefall Cemetery highlights Harrogate’s female war casualties

To mark International Women’s Day next month, free tours will take place at Stonefall Cemetery that put a spotlight on six female war casualties who are commemorated there.

The tours have been organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and will take place on March 5,6 and 8.

Visitors will be able to learn more about local women who served in the Auxiliary Territorial Service and the Territorial Army Nursing Service.

One of the women, Sister Florrie Prest from Bilton, served at Dunkirk and in Africa and also on hospital ships in the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

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During the Second World War almost 1,000 service personnel were buried at Stonefall Cemetery. Many of them came from across the Commonwealth. There will also be tours from March 12-14 to mark Commonwealth Day.

These include two brothers serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force who died just a few months apart as well as a descendent of the last King of Fiji.

Elizabeth Smith, public engagement coordinator for the North East of England, said:

“The themed guided tours at Stonefall Cemetery will give local people a chance to reconnect with their history, to learn about the work of the CWGC, and discover the remarkable stories of the men and women who are buried in their community.”

To book on the free tours visit https://www.cwgc.org/our-war-graves-your-history/what-s-happening-near-you/

For more information please contact: Elizabeth Smith on elizabeth.smith@cwgc.org