Remember them today
He was first black British Army officer to command white troops.
And today, 100 years after his death, Second Lieutenant Walter Daniel Tull is being commemorated as part of Danny Boyle’s Pages Of The Sea remembrance project. His command as an officer in the First World War caused consternation in Army circles as it was in direct conflict with the 1914 Manual of Military Law which excluded non-whites from exercising authority.
But despite adversity, Tull excelled both in his professional football career – being signed by Rangers on February 2 1917–andasanarmy officer.
He was recommended for the award of the Military Cross and members of his family want it to be awarded posthumously.
But Tull’s great grandnephew, Tor Justad, said: “It is his overcoming of prejudice and discrimination that for me personally should be most commended.”