Memorial Walter Tull

"Walter Daniel John Tull
28th April 1888- 25th March 1918"

"Walter Tull - A local legend

Lieutenant Walter Tull was the first British-born black army officer and the first black officer to lead white British troops into battle . He was killed in action on March 25 1918 while leading his men on an assault on German trenches at Favreuil on the Somme, His men tried desperately to recover his body under heavy machine gun fire, and unable to do so, his remains were never found.
Mr Tull was an avid footballer, signing for Tottenham Hotspur FC in 1909. He was also the third black player to play in the top division and went on to play 111 times for Northampton from 1911, scoring nine goals. He also fought in six battles, The Battle of Ancre, First Battle of the Somme, Battle of Messines, Third Battle of Ypres, Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, Second Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Bapaume - where he fell.
He was a Folkestone man, born and bred. His name is engraved in the memorial at the foot of the Step Short Arch in Folkestone, which is also where veterans gather to pay respect to fallen soldiers every year."

Walter Daniel John Tull. Second Lieutenant 5th Bn attd 23rd Bn Middlesex Regiment. Died 25 March 1918. Age 29. Commemorated at Arras Memorial, France

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