Petition calls for pioneer Walter Tull to receive Military Cross and London statue
A petition is calling for history-making footballer and forces trailblazer Walter Tull to be honoured with a Military Cross and statue in central London.
He made huge strides in British football and served his country at war, fighting in the Battle of the Somme.
Tull is regarded as the first black professional outfield player to appear in the Football League when, at just 21 years of age, on 1 September 1909 he stepped out in Tottenham Hotspur's first match in England's top division.
He is widely considered the first man of African-Caribbean mixed heritage to be commissioned as an infantry officer in the British Army.
Lieutenant Walter Tull is also believed to be the Army's first black officer to command white troops into battle.
"It's time now"
Nick Marr, who founded WalterTull.org in 2010, started the online petition which has now gathered more than 200 of its targeted 500 signatures.
He told Forces News: "It's time now. This is the beginning of getting history out there.
"I have grandchildren now, it's nice that they can have people that look like them that are heroes too."
He added that as well as addressing historical balances, the campaign is important to get Tull's "name out there", and "raise the profile" of him.
According to the Walter Tull archive: "On 25th March 1918, Walter was ordered to lead his men in an attack on German trenches at Favreuil. Not far into No Man's Land, Walter was hit by machine gun fire and died (age 29).
"Despite the best efforts of his men, his body was never recovered."
The archive also mentions that Lt Tull was recommended for a Military Cross for his bravery and leadership in Italy before he was sent to France – an award that he never received.
Walter Tull is remembered on the Memorial Wall in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras, along with 35,000 others whose bodies were never recovered from battlefields in that area of northern France.
Mr Marr is "determined" to get Walter Tull's name widely recognised and for him to become an inspiration for others.
On WalterTull.org he said: "His story shows some great values, including loyalty to his country, resilience, leadership, determination, and the strength to get over adversity.
Watch: Tottenham Hotspur and Glasgow Rangers compete for Walter Tull Memorial Cup.
"If only Walter's story was around when I was a boy!"
The campaign wants to raise the profile and respect the memory of Tull by having a statue put up in central London.
Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn is among 37 MPs that signed an early-day motion in 2007 to have a statue erected.
The motion text read: "That this House fully supports the campaign to recognise the achievements of Walter Tull with a statue in his honour; notes that Walter Tull was the first black British officer to lead white soldiers into battle; recognises his strong record of bravery and gallantry in wartime, being posthumously awarded the British War and Victory Medal; further notes his prior accomplishments as a successful professional footballer for a number of clubs, often in the face of vocal racial abuse; and believes that Walter Tull is a timeless role model for every generation."
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