Thread: WW1 hero Tull deserves a medal

‘Hero Tull deserves a medal’

A Tory MP has called for black World War One hero and footballer Walter Tull to be awarded a posthumous Military Cross for bravery.

Brian Binley has introduced an early day motion in the House of Commons calling for recognition of Mr Tull’s achievements in early 20th century Britain, when racist attitudes were common.

The MP for Northampton called him an inspiration for people from all backgrounds.

Mr Tull, who was born in Folkestone and also lived in Dover, was the first black outfield player to perform in top-class football.

He played for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town before volunteering for the British Army. He died on the Western Front in 1918. Despite the efforts of his troops, Mr Tull’s body was never recovered.

His football career took off in 1909 when he signed as a professional for Spurs and he experienced spectator racism for the first time at Bristol City.

According to one writer, “a section of the spectators made a cowardly attack on him in language lower than Billingsgate”.

He added: “Let me tell those Bristol hooligans that Tull is so clean in mind and method as to be a model for all white men who play football, whether they be amateur or professional. In point of ability, if not actual achievement, Tull was the best forward on the field.”

In October 1911, Mr Tull moved to Northampton Town before joining the Army. Despite military regulations against “any negro or person of colour” being an officer, he received his commission in May 1917.

On March 25, 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Tull was ordered to lead his men in an attack on the German trenches at Favreuil.

Soon after entering No Man’s Land he was hit by a bullet. But he was such a popular officer that his men made valiant efforts, under heavy machine-gun fire, to bring him back to the British lines.

Since his story was rediscovered during investigations into the history of those commemorated on Dover’s war memorial, Mr Tull has been hailed as “a pioneer of multi-culturalism”.

Last week, Piara Power, the director of football’s anti-racist group Kick it Out, hailed Mr Tull as an “inspiration.” He added: “Minority heroes can be overlooked. Mr Tull is very significant. He was a black officer when it was not common, and his football achievements rank alongside that.

Sounds very PC to me.