I have recently been to the Leeds Playhouse to watch a brilliant play, Small Island, centred on the West Indian immigration, around the Second World War, known as the "Windrush" era, telling of the discrimination of West Indians (and others) arriving in Britain. It made me think of Walter Tull, whose story I am sure I have "Blogged" before (around this time in March). Walter and his story deserves another mention and well, here it is. I hope the link works. Walter Tull born 28th April, 1888. Folkestone.
Walter Tull: The incredible story of a football pioneer and war hero. He was born in 1888 to a Barbadian father, Daniel, and English mother, Alice. He bcame the first professional black outfield player, IN THE WORLD! When his parents had died, Tull was packed off to a Kent Methodist orphanage, in 1897, where he quickly made his name as a footballer. In 1908 he was spotted by the amateur side Clapton FC in London, now known as Leyton Orient and a year later was recruited by Spurs from the First Division (the top one at that time).
After a handful of impressive matches for the club, he was dropped following racist abuse from crowds when playing in a match at Bristol City in 1909. "A section of the spectators made a cowardly attack in a language lower than "Billingsgate" (the historic Fish Market in central London, where there was a lot of "bad laguage" afoot daily!), reported The Football Star paper. It was reported "Let me tell these Bristol hooligans that Tull is so clean in mind and method, as to be a model for all White men who play football. Two seasons later he moved to Northampton where he played 110 matches for the club under the legendary, Herbert Chapman (reknowned for his success with the Arsenal club).
Tull's success there brought him a transfer to Rangers, but he never played for the Glasgow giants.
When war broke out in 1914, Tull was one of the first to enlist, joining up with the legendary, 1st Football Battalion and being a bright lad, so earned promotion quickly at a time when a colour bar operated in the higher ranks of the British Army. Tull remained in Italy until 1918, when he was transferred to France to take part in the attempt to break the German lines on the Western Front.
On 25th March he was ordered to lead an attack on their position at Favreuil, where we was shot in the head and died instantly.
After surviving six major battles, Tull was shot in no-mans' land near Favreuil in the Pas De Calais, France. His colleagues tried to drag him to safety but he died instantly. Days later, his brother Edward received a letter telling of this fate, as his commanding officer wrote; "The Battalion and Company have lost a faithful officer and personally, I have lost a friend". UNLIKE the Bristol City fans who had once jeered him, Tull's colour made no odds to his fellow soldiers.
At one stage, Tull was temporary dismissed from service after suffering from “shell shock”, or what is classified as post traumatic disorder. Not being left defeated by the diagnosis, he later returned to the conflict and fought in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.
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