Walter Tull, who died in action on March 25, 1918, fought in six battles, including the Battle of the Somme and at Ypres
MPs are calling for the first black British Army officer to be awarded a posthumous Military Cross after he gave up a glittering football career to fight in the First World War. Walter Tull, who died in action on March 25, 1918, fought in six battles, including the Battle of the Somme and at Ypres. He was also mentioned in dispatches for leading his company of 26 men on a raiding party into enemy territory in Italy. Tull was commissioned as an officer in 1917 despite military regulations forbidding 'any negro or person of colour' from serving in such a role. He was also one of the first black professional footballers, playing for Spurs and Northampton Town but his career came to an end in 1914 when he dedicated his life to military service. Parliamentarians say racism was the reason Tull was never awarded the Military Cross he was. The campaign to honour him by a cross-party group of MPs is led by Labour MP David Lammy and has the backing of Jeremy Corbyn. Prominent Tories such as Maria Miller and Sarah Wollaston, as well as Liberal Democrat, SNP, Plaid Cymru and DUP members, are also rallying to recognise his bravery. The call has been backed by 127 MPs who have written to Prime Minister Theresa May ahead of the hundredth anniversary of Tull's death this Sunday.
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