Nine civilians, one as young as 16 and another aged 77, were among the 123 Greenhithe people who died during the world wars.

The town does not have a memorial to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but that is all about to change.

Planning permission has now been granted for one to be built and thanks to some generous funding, it will be ready in time for Remembrance Day.

More than 100 people who were from, living in, or had links to Greenhithe will be remembered on the stone.

They include one man who was part of the Hong Kong Defence Force.

Formerly a British Crown colony, its defence was the responsibility of Britain, and Commonwealth Forces were also deployed to territories shortly before the Second World War.

Two serving in the Canadian and Australian infantry with Greenhithe links were also killed.

The heaviest casualties came from people serving in the Army, accounting for 82 of the 123 deaths.

Two Royal Marines from the area were also killed and 19 others in the navy.

The youngest deaths for the military and civilians were both just 16 years old.

The stone will be erected outside the Greenhithe and Swanscombe Royal British Legion club in London Road. It has the full backing of Dartford council, which also contributed £2,000 for the build.

The club has managed to raise a few thousand as well, and Asda contributed £500.

House builder Redrow Homes, which is investing in Ebbsfleet Green as part of the Garden City, volunteered the last £2,000 needed.

Greenhithe ward councillor David Mote and committee member of the RBL club said: “We had originally planned this to be built to coincide with the centenary of the end of the First World War in 2018, but receiving this money has meant we can get it done as soon as possible, which is great.

“It has been a real challenge getting all the names together and a huge amount of work has gone into it by branch treasurer Graham Mentor-Morris and his colleagues.”

There are also long-term plans to have an area within the club where people can go to learn more about the men behind the names etched into the stone – their backgrounds, regiments, and role in the war.

Three-quarters of those killed were from the First World War.

Pupils of Knockhall Academy helped design the commemorative stone and their ideas were pulled together to create the final agreed version.

The official unveiling at 4pm Friday, November 11 – Armistice Day – will see Dartford Mayor Cllr John Burrell, leader of the council Cllr Jeremy Kite and pupils of Knockhall Academy gather.