Swaffham branches of the Royal Naval Association and the Royal British Legion, with the town council's support and co-operation, have been raising money for the plaque, which is being carved from pink granite by a stonemason.

It will read: "In Memory of the Fallen of East Anglia: 1945 – Present Day. Lest we forget."

The plaque will be fixed to the base of the town's war memorial, which at present only honours those killed during the two world wars.

A war memorial plaque steering committee, formed of local members from the RNA and the Legion plus Swaffham vicar the Rev John Smith, is currently making arrangements for the ceremony on Sunday, June 29, at 11.30am.

A parade of standard bearers and members of various veterans' associations from East Anglia, representing all three services, will precede the unveiling. They will be joined by serving members of the Armed Forces and members of Lynn Sea Cadets, Swaffham Air Training Corps and Swaffham Army Cadets.

Committee member David Harman said the parade would start from White Cross Road at 11.15am and march through the town centre to the war memorial in the Market Place.

Norfolk's Lord-Lieutenant Richard Jewson has accepted an invitation to attend the ceremony, where the vicar will give the dedication and there will be a minute's silence and the playing of Last Post and Reveille.

Mr Harman said: "The organisers hope that the plaque will encourage and help to teach the younger generations to follow the older traditions of remembrance, now and in the future.

"We may be the only town in the UK to have a plaque of this kind and we hope that other towns and cities around the country will follow, leaving a permanent reminder of those servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice."