A MAIDSTONE serviceman who died in Italy soon after the Second World War ended and another soldier buried in the county town have been included in a new roll of honour.

The roll commemorates Railway Sappers - the collective name given to all members of the Corps of Royal Engineers - who died in the last war.

It includes Sapper Cyril Ernest Seager, of 660 Railway Construction Company of the Corps of Royal Engineers, who died on September 12, 1940, aged 27. He is buried at Maidstone Cemetery.

Also on the Roll is Cpl Dennis John Sutton of 154 Transportation Stores Company, who died on October 15, 1946, aged 22, and is buried at Udine War Cemetery in Italy. His parents lived at Langley Heath.

In 1968, when British Rail stopped using steam trains, the Worcestershire-based Stanier 8F Locomotive Society acquired heavy freight steam locomotive No 48773.

Built in 1940, the locomotive served with the Corps of Royal Engineers in Iran and Egypt between 1941-1952. In 1986, due to its military background, the locomotive was dedicated as the official memorial to all British military railwaymen (Sappers) who gave their lives on active service during the last war. It is believed to be the only land based mobile War Memorial in the UK.

With assistance from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the society has identified 354 members of various Railway Units who died in the conflict.

It is these individuals who are commemorated on the roll of honour which was dedicated by the Chief Royal Engineer, Lieutenant-General Sir Scott Grant at a special service at Kidderminster Town Station.

Two Books of Remembrance, also dedicated at the ceremony, will now be held by the Royal Engineers Museum at Chatham and the Museum of Army Transport at Beverley. Since 1968, locomotive 48773 has been hauling trains between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth on the Severn Valley Railway.