Chance to discover real history as part of Harrogate War Graves Week

Running to Sunday, May 24, The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is inviting people in Harrogate to discover the human stories behind war graves in their local communities and share their own histories this May, as War Graves Week returns with a nationwide programme of events and activities.

Across Harrogate, extraordinary war stories are hidden in plain sight - etched into headstones in cemeteries and memorial sites that many people pass every day without a second glance.

Behind each stone is a life, a family, and a story of service and sacrifice, forming part of a global legacy spanning more than 150 countries and territories, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission..

War graves in Harrogate contain personal stories of First and Second World War service hidden in plain sight.

At Stonefall Cemetery the CWGC, which was founded by Royal Charter in 1917, cares for more than 1,000 war graves these include the graves of local people and those from across the Commonwealth.

One example is Flight Sergeant Basil Furness Snell DFM, a former pupil of Harrogate Grammar School, who was killed in a flying accident.

Another story is that of Sergeant Joseph Raymond Pollon of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who was killed in a training accident at the age of 17, just a few weeks after arriving in Britain

Elizabeth Smith, CWGC Public Engagement Coordinator, said: “War Graves Week is an opportunity for people to see familiar places in a new light.

“At Stonefall Cemetery there are stories of courage, loss and resilience that are part of the community’s history yet often go unnoticed in everyday life.

“We are encouraging everyone to explore local CWGC sites in the area and share their own stories to connect Harrogate to our shared global history.”

As part of War Graves Week, a free tours will take place on Saturday, May 23 at Stonefall Cemetery.

To find out more about the event, or share a story, visit www.cwgc.org/war-graves-week