Who was Walter Tull and what did he do? | History for Year 6 PDF Download

Walter Tull’s Family

• Walter Tull was born on April 28, 1888, in Folkestone, Kent. He was part of a mixed-race family, with his mother, Alice, being a local from Folkestone, and his father, Daniel, an immigrant from Barbados. 
• Daniel married twice and had six children. After Daniel’s death in 1897, Walter’s stepmother was unable to care for the children, leading to Walter and his brother Edward being placed in an orphanage in East London. 
• The bustling, noisy city environment was a stark contrast to the rural farms and countryside Walter had known.

Walter’s Life as a Footballer

Walter developed a passion for football early in life. At the orphanage, he participated in various sports, including football and cricket, and was part of the orphanage football team. This early experience paved the way for his professional career with Tottenham Hotspur.

Walter Becomes a Soldier

Walter Tull had a distinguished military career during World War I. He joined the Football Battalion and was quickly promoted to Sergeant. In 1916, he returned to England to train as an officer, a role typically reserved for white, British-born individuals at the time. Walter was an exception to this rule, allowing him to pursue officer training.

Walter the Officer

In May 1917, Walter was commissioned as an officer. He earned high praise for his leadership, particularly for guiding soldiers across a river in Italy. On March 25, 1918, while leading an attack on German trenches across the dangerous open ground of 'No Man’s Land,' Walter was struck by enemy machine-gun fire and killed. His body was never recovered.

How Do We Remember Walter?

• Walter’s name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France, which honors approximately 35,000 servicemen who died between spring 1916 and August 7, 1918, and have no known graves. 
• At the time of his death, Walter’s story received little media attention. However, in recent years, his legacy has gained recognition, including a campaign to posthumously award him the Military Cross. 
• While Walter was not the only Black British officer in the war, he was the first to lead troops on the front lines, making his contribution particularly significant.