Stories of war often feature tales of bravery on the battlefield or fierce fights that played out at sea or in the skies.

For International Women's Day (IWD) on Sunday, the stories focus on the unsung heroes whose quiet efforts helped change the course of history.

Six women are among nearly 1,000 service personnel buried at Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery.

These women are now in the spotlight, with free guided tours hosted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC),.

placeholder image — Capt Susie Cooper, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals for 23 years and now as a Captain in the Army Reserves, is a volunteer with the CWGC. Pictured at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

Capt Susie Cooper, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals for 23 years and now as a Captain in the Army Reserves, is a volunteer with the CWGC.

"There's quite a few remarkable women," she said. "Some are buried under a CWGC headstones, others are known as 'scattered graves'.

"These are women who served their country. They died, quite often, serving under the British forces in uniform."

One of the women featured on the tour served at Bletchley Park in the war, as a translator. She survived but is remembered today for her service.

The Grave of Winifred Mary Suggitt at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

"There's a nurse who was really brave," said Capt Cooper. "She saved a lot of lives on the hospital ships. These are the unsung heroes of war.

"Throughout military conflicts there has always been military nursing. We take it for granted – now it's nice to shine a light on what these ladies have done.”

The CWGC maintains war graves in the UK of those who served in the First and Second World Wars, with Harrogate's Stonefall Cemetery holding the largest plot in the North.

This IWD on Sunday, March 8, will see free guided tours - with two now planned after previous events sold out.

Capt Susan Cooper, battlefield guide and tour manager

Capt Cooper, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was just 17 when she first visited Menin Gate at Ypres, with the vast scale of loss and its significance staying with her. Now as a volunteer, she takes groups on tours at the Harrogate cemetery.

"It is less common, to shine a light on the women in war," she said. "When we think about war, we often think about bravery on the battlefield, we are talking about heroes and soldiers.

"It's really important to show that women had a role in the war effort," she added. "It's no longer a silent story, it's one for everybody to see.

"It's my honour and privilege to show these women in the light that they should be known."

Many of those buried at Stonefall also came from Commonwealth nations, such as 600 soldiers from Canada and nearly 100 Australian servicemen.

Further tours are to be held on Commonwealth Day, March 9, to share their stories.

Elizabeth Smith, of the CWGC, said the tours forge a connection with the past.

“These tours are a poignant reminder of the courage and resilience of those who served,” she said. "Such was the resonance of last year's tours that spaces filled quickly.”

Bookings can be made at www.cwgc.org/visit-us/war-graves-tours.