It is a little more than 100 years ago that the shocking news was relayed to the people of Sidcup.

Thomas Highgate, 19, a soldier who lived in the town with his mother and brothers, had been caught, tried and shot “as publicly as possible”.

World War I was just a few weeks old.

Thomas James Highgate was the first British soldier to be executed for desertion in World War I.

His name is on the war memorial but not on the one in Shoreham village where he was born.

His tragic fate, after 100 years, still provokes fierce emotions and difficult questions.

His great-nephew, Terence Highgate campaigned for years to clear his name.

The only son of a farm worker, Thomas Highgate was born in Shoreham on May 13 1895. In February 1913, aged 17, he joined the Royal West Kent Regiment.

Within months he was upbraided for being late for Tattoo, and “exchanging duties without permission”.

In early 1914, he was reprimanded for having a rusty rifle and deserting, for which he received the punishment of 48 days detention.

On September 5, the first day of the Battle of the Marne and the 35th day of the war, Private Highgate’s nerves got the better of him and he fled the battlefield.

He hid in a barn in the village of Tournan, a few miles south of the river, and was discovered wearing civilian clothes by a gamekeeper who happened to be English and an ex-soldier.

Having been turned in, Highgate was tried by a court martial for desertion.

The trial, presided over by three officers, was brief.

Highgate did not speak and was not represented.

He was found guilty.

At 6.20am on September 8, he was informed that he would be executed. At 7.07am he was shot by firing squad.

For many years, any mention of his name in Shoreham was taboo because he had abandoned his colleagues in their hour of need, but in 2000 a referendum was held in the village and one in five of the 1,100 eligible voted to have his name on the memorial.

The vicar, the Rev Barry Simmons welcomed the result.

He said: “It seems Private Highgate was purely and simply a young soldier who was so terrified he deserted. My own feeling is that he fought at Mons so played his part.”

Among those opposing the move was Major Michael Green, the president of the Shoreham branch of the Royal British Legion. Major Green, who served throughout World War II with the First Airborne Division, said: “I am very sorry for this chap and I hope he will be pardoned. But I do not think we should re-write history in this way.”

However, at a parish meeting that followed the council voted not to add Private Highgate’s name to the memorial.

Jean Lothian, the council chairwoman, said: “My feeling is that the family were farm labourers and travelled around. They never returned to Shoreham after the war.

“Private Highgate’s name is on the memorial at Sidcup with his two brothers and I think that is sufficient.”

In 2006 the government pardoned all 306 servicemen executed in the World War I.