A campaign has been launched to name a Glasgow railway station after a war hero who worked there.

Greater Pollok Heritage Group wants a tribute to Sergeant John Meikle, a former clerk at Nitshill station.

Mr Meikle was awarded the Victoria Cross, the UK's highest military honour, for "conspicuous bravery and initiative" during the First World War after he single-handedly - and armed only with a revolver and a stick - took out a German machine gun.

But a local memorial to him was vandalised and it was moved many years ago to Dingwall, in the Highlands. His battalion was stationed there during the war.

Sergeant Meikle had also won the Military Medal for an earlier act of bravery.

Now the history group, backed by Greater Pollok councillor David McDonald, has asked Network Rail to consider an honorary name change of the station.

John Meikle worked for the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Railway at Nitshill and lived in the area with his family.

He enlisted in the Army on February 8, 1915 at the age of 19 and rose through the ranks to become a sergeant in the 4th Battalion, The Seaforth Highlanders.

But he was killed in action on July 20, 1918, near Marfaux, France, while successfully disarming a German machine gun using a fallen comrade's weapon.

War records contain a letter from the soldier's commanding officer, Captain Claude Hamilton Harris, to his parents following his death.

It reads: "Your boy has been under my command ever since he joined the Battalion. To tell you what I thought of him is absolutely an impossibility, as I cannot praise sufficiently his beautiful character, or describe his wonderful personality.

"For his acts of bravery and gallantry John received the army's highest award, the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery and initiative."

The directors of the Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Railway also paid tribute to Mr Meikle as a "faithful member of the staff of the railway at Nitshill station."

Councillor McDonald said: "I have written to Network Rail to ask it to consider an honorary name change of Nitshill station to mark the life and sacrifice of John Meikle. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Great War I believe it would be a fitting reminder."

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We would be very happy to work with the community to find an appro­priate way to honour Sergeant Meikle's memory.".

linzi.watson@eveningtimes.co.uk