The tradition of honouring the war dead in a North Yorkshire cemetery started 76 years ago when local families undertook to lay wreaths on the graves of the Canadian airmen on behalf of their families thousands of miles away.

More than 1,000 casualties are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CGWC) at Stonefall Cemetery near Harrogate, the majority of whom were servicemen with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Many were bomber crews and generally they were buried side by side with their comrades. For the past four years local woman Benji Walker has organised a candelit Christmas Remembrance service to pay respects to the fallen.

Last year the event had to take place without the public, but yesterday (Sunday) people were again able to attend in person.

Sea Cadet Lucia Leeming-Sheppard places candles at Canadian Air Force graves during a Candlelit Christmas Remembrance at the Commonwealth War Graves at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate

They were invited to place battery-operated tea lights on the graves of the fallen, before a short service took place. Mrs Walker, who has a son serving in the Yorkshire Regiment, was inspired by images of CWGC cemeteries in Europe lit by candlelight.

Stunning stained glass window featuring nativity scene from 1330 returned to Yor...

She will be using the event to raise money for the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and Help for Heroes.

She said: “I feel it’s as important today as it was at the time to recognise the sacrifice of those who gave everything to serve this country.”

Sea Cadets place candles at Canadian Air Force graves during a Candlelit Christmas Remembrance at the Commonwealth War Graves at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate

The cemetery is one of the largest CWGC sites in the North of England.

The first burial took place in 1943. In 1944 over 550 Air Force crew were to lose their lives and be interred at Stonefall.

Canada’s main Second World War effort was in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, which saw 160,000 aircrew train in Canada with Canadians making up around half the number.

For much of the War, 6 Group of Bomber Commander, a Royal Canadian Air Force formation, was based in Yorkshire.

Candlelit service held at Yorkshire cemetery to honour Canadian airmen