The little-known sacrifice of 113 river men from Gravesend has been recognised, including three 15-year-old boys.

Andrew Marshall, who runs the Gravesham War Memorials Trust, has created a booklet about the men who served and died from the Gravesend Riverside community.

Serving as part of the Merchant Navy, none of them had been mentioned on any local memorial, and the research has taken Mr Marshall years.

Most served on the tugs, pilot vessels and other ships based at Gravesend and it has emerged that three of them were 15-year-old cooks.

Mr Marshall, 52, of The Turnstones, Gravesend, said: “The youngest was Kenneth Lynds who died on his first day while serving aboard the tug, Persia.

“He was killed when the tug was engulfed in a huge fireball after the tanker SS Lunula struck a mine as it docked at Thames Haven.”

He was one of seven crew members to lose their lives on April 9, 1941.

The teenager had lived in Brandon Street, Gravesend, and is now commemorated on panel 80 of the Tower Hill memorial.

Known as Ginger, he turned 15 just 17 days before making his first trip, when he died.

He had joined the vessel a few hours before.

In a quote from the time his mother, named only as Mrs Lynds, said: “It was Ken’s one ambition to go to sea. I did not like the idea, but he pleaded with me to let him go.

“Danger and risk did not dampen his enthusiasm – ‘I want to do my bit mum. If I get blown up I shall be dying for my King and my country’.”

Frederick Charles Rogers was only 15, too.

The son of Charles and Emily, he lived in Ingoldsby Road, Gravesend and is now commemorated on panel 71 of the Tower Hill Memorial.

He was aboard the SS Muria, which was sunk by a magnetic mine on November 8, 1940, of North Foreland.

All 10 crew members died, including nine from Gravesend and Northfleet.

William Bird, the son of William and Emma Bird, lived above the The Albion Shades pub in Albion Parade, Gravesend, which his grandparents were licensees of.

Having joined up when he was only 14, William had been serving for a year when he died.

Bawley Bay hosted its own service in honour of those who have died while serving in the Merchant Navy on Remembrance Sunday.

Children from Wrotham Road Primary School and St John’s Comprehensive School put together a display of artwork in St Andrew’s Art Centre just next door.

To send in pictures to Mr Marshall, or get a copy of the booklet, email achroite@sky.com.