More than 100 people who died in the First and Second World Wars will finally be honoured with a memorial more than a century after many lost their lives.

Greenhithe’s Royal British Legion committee has applied for planning permission to build a memorial in the grounds of the popular club in London Road.

While neighbouring Swanscombe, Stone, Dartford and Northfleet have their own memorials, there is nothing for the community sandwiched in between.

It means at least the 101 people who lost their lives – 79 in the First World War and 29 in the Second – are not recorded on any local memorial. It is thought there may be a few more names to add on.

The Legion felt the situation was unacceptable and branch treasurer Graham Mentor-Morris formally put the application in.

There will be no association to any religious or political group, instead the monument is likely to favour a large rock of some kind. If approved, it will be set into a strip of land at the front of the grounds, between the car park and the public pavement, so it can be seen by passers-by.

It will mean some of the railings and shrubs are removed and a hard standing area created for the stone, as well as some benches.

During the Dartfordian Awards in March, Dartford council leader, Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con) pledged the support of the council if the RBL were to undertake the building of a new memorial.

Funded and looked after by the club, the project will cost around £10,000. Of that, £3,000 has already been raised by the local community. Further sponsorship from businesses is being invited.

Greenhithe ward councillor David Mote is also a member of the RBL club, and sits on the social and branch committee boards.

He said: “I’m very pleased. This is something the members of the committee at the branch have been working on for quite some time. Gathering the names has been a very difficult task at times, so all credit to the members for doing that.

“It is important that military and civilian people who made the ultimate sacrifice are recognised. I hope it comes to fruition, and I’m looking forward to seeing it come to fruition. The aim is to have it ready before Armistice Day this year.”

A plaque will also have the Ode of Remembrance inscribed, taken from Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen and beginning “They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old”.

The application is awaiting a decision by Dartford council.