Captain Walter Tull: From the Folkestone Archives...

Recent articles remembering Walter Tull prompted me to have a look back almost 10 years...

MINUTES of the Meeting of the Town Council held at the Civic Centre, Castle Hill Avenue, Folkestone on Thursday, 27 November 2008 at 7 p.m.

www.folkestonetc.kentparishes.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/27_November_2008_M.pdf

Councillor Tom McNeice - Captain Walter Tull

RESOLVED: That this Council notes with pride that Captain Walter Tull, a professional footballer and the first commissioned black officer in the British Army, was born and raised in Folkestone. Captain Walter Tull was recommended for the Military Cross, but in 1918 was killed in action in the Somme before it could be awarded.

Captain Walter Tull's family lived in 16 Allendale Street, Folkestone, where Captain Walter Tull was born, and later moved nearby to 51 Walton Street, Folkestone. Captain Walter Tull and his siblings went to Folkestone North Board school, now Mundella Primary School.

This Council resolves to support memorials or plaques in the town to mark the birthplace and achievements of Captain Walter Tull.

This Council further resolves to write to the Ministry of Defence to call for the posthumous award of the Military Cross to Captain Walter Tull.

Proposed: Councillor Tom McNeice
Seconded: Councillor Tim Prater
Voting: F:14, Ag:0, Ab:0

In the next year, plaques to Walter Tull were placed on the Folkestone bandstand, the Christchurch Tower in the Folkestone Memorial Gardens and on Mundella School which Walter attended.

Mundella School later consulted on whether to change its name to The Walter Tull Primary School, but they decided not to go ahead after the consultation.

The Ministry of Defence still have not awarded the Military Cross to Captain Walter Tull.