A young serviceman who died in Iraq has had his name added to a village war memorial, almost 60 years after the last local hero was honoured.

Senior Aircraftman Chris Dunsmore, from Leicester Forest East, died in a rocket attack in Basra in July 2007.

The 29-year-old was scheduled to fly home for two weeks' leave to celebrate his 30th birthday on the day he died.

SAC Dunsmore served as an RAF auxiliary – an Air Force reservist – and his family and friends have dedicated themselves to having his service commemorated.

His name is already listed on the National Memorial Wall, in Staffordshire, among more than 16,000 other members of the Armed Forces killed since the Second World War.

Now it has been etched on the war memorial in Kirby Muxloe in time for Remembrance Sunday.

The project cost around £3,000, including the work on new memorial slates and gates.

Best friend Mark Leonard, 30, of Leicester Forest East, came up with the idea and raised money towards it.

He said: "Because Chris was cremated we had nowhere local to go and I thought it would be a good way to remember him.

"It's amazing how his death has affected everything – we used to go out as a group into town but now we tend to stay local.

"He was a very loyal person and always stood up for what he thought was right, even if it got him into trouble.

"I miss him a lot."

Mark originally raised about £300 towards the scheme. When the parish council covered the project cost this cash sum was donated to military charity Help for Heroes.

According to local history expert Sheila Mileham, the last name to be added to the memorial was Frederick Burn Millington, who was killed in action in Korea, aged 24, in 1951. There are nearly 40 names listed on the memorial, including many teenagers who lost their lives in both world wars.

SAC Dunsmore's father Geoff moved to Devon three years ago.

His daughter Ellie will represent the family tomorrow during the village's Remembrance service.

Mr Dunsmore said: "Obviously it's a fantastic honour and I'm glad it's in Kirby Muxloe because that's just up the road from Chris' stomping ground.

"I think Remembrance Day is a day where I feel for all the families.

"I think it's a very unfortunate situation where we are still having to add new names to memorials."

Ruth Buckingham, chair of Kirby Muxloe Parish Council, said: "I'm so pleased Chris's name is now on the memorial.

"What we tried to do is add another name to the tablet on the memorial slate but there was no way we could fit it on. We are planning on putting the old tablets back into the community, probably in the cemetery."