A PARISH council is to hold talks next week about whether to place the name of an executed First World War soldier on its war memorial.

Shoreham Parish Council and the British Legion are to discuss whether to honour Private Thomas Highgate at a meeting on Thursday.

Pte Highgate became the first British soldier of the war to be executed when he was shot at dawn for desertion on September 18, 1914 after fleeing the Battle of Mons in Belgium.

The parish council decided not to place his name on the memorial when it was refurbished in 2000.

But is said it would reconsider the decision in the event Pte Highgate and others received pardons from the Government.

Earlier this month Defence Secretary Des Browne announced he was seeking a group pardon for 306 soldiers shot during the conflict.

In turn, Pte Highgate's great nephew Terrence Highgate, 67, called on Shoreham to honour its pledge to reconsider.

Welcoming the news the matter is to be discussed next Thursday, Mr Highgate, of Northumberland Park, Erith, said: "It is a positive step, but there could be mixed feelings there. We will just have to wait and see what they decide."