THEY were the dauntless dozen from a giant Eastleigh printing works and they all made the ultimate sacrifice for king and country during the Second World War.

For years the names of those who never returned to work at the Sir Joseph Causton factory in Brookwood Avenue, were remembered on a bronze roll of honour displayed in the foyer.

After Causton's moved out the plaque remained in situ. But now, the roll of honour is set to be seen by the public for the first time after being rescued before the site is sold to developers.

Eastleigh councillor Bill Luffman put the wheels in motion after a plea from 76-year-old Mrs Iris Stubbington whose elder brother's name figures on the memorial.

RAF sergeant Gilbert Loveridge was only 21 when he was lost over the North Sea on the night of August 2-3 1943. He had been on a bombing mission to Hamburg.

The young Eastleigh-born man, who had been a progress chaser for Causton's, had volunteered for the RAF and served with 214 Squadron, based in Sussex as a bomb aimer.

Only two members of the bomber's crew of seven were saved after the aircraft crashed into the North Sea. Gilbert's body was never found.

Mrs Stubbington of Woodpecker Way, Eastleigh, said she asked Mr Luffman to step in to try and save the plaque because she was worried it might disappear due to demolition.

Now, the roll of honour has been given to Eastleigh Museum for safekeeping until a final decision is taken about where best to display it.

Mrs Stubbington said: "This means a great deal to me. I am so grateful for all the work that has gone into saving it. If it is displayed in the museum more people will see it than when it was at Causton's."

Mr Luffman said that after hearing of Mrs Stubbington's concerns he got in touch with Eastleigh council's deputy chief executive Roberto Tambini and development officer Peter Grant, who approached current site owners Field Boxmore Healthcare Packaging.

"The company was only too pleased to give the plaque to Eastleigh Borough Council for safekeeping. I am delighted that we have been able to preserve a small piece of Eastleigh's history," he said.

Mr Luffman said he could think of no better place to display the roll of honour than the museum, but added: "We need to talk to the relatives of those named on the plaque to find out their opinions."