One of Britain’s first black footballers and a First World War hero could be awarded a posthumous Military Cross.

A total of 127 MPs have written to the Prime Minister calling for Walter Tull to be honoured the third-level decoration.

Tull, from Folkestone and whose parents were from Dover, was the first black infantry officer to lead white troops into battle and the first black infantry officer to be recommended for a Military Cross, which he never received.

Born in Folkestone in 1888 and growing up in an orphanage from aged nine after both his parents died, Tull was a football pioneer, playing for Clapton, Spurs and Northampton.

But he joined the army in December 1914.

Promoted three times as a rank and file soldier, he was commissioned an officer in May 1917.

While on the front line in Italy, Tull twice led his men on night raids and both times returned without casualties.

He was killed in action on March 25 in 1918 while leading his men in an assault on German trenches at Favreuil on the Somme.

Under heavy machine gun fire, his men tried to recover his body but were unable to do so, and his remains were never found.

Tull 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.

In his football career Tull became one of the first black footballers in Britain.

He was only the second professional black player in the Football League.

He played football for Tottenham Hotspur and Northampton Town.

Tull was featured on a special £5 coin in 2005 in 2014 to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and his legacy is also kept alive through the Action for Children charity.

In Folkestone this weekend military historian Liam Tarry will hold a remembrance service to mark the centenary of his death.

Mr Tarry said: “Walter Tull was a true hero.

“He proved that the colour of your skin did not define anything else but heroism. He was a Folkestone man, born and bred here.

He grew up in Folkestone and I want to lead a 15 minute service to lay a tribute to this fine man from Folkestone, who died 100 years ago”.

The service will take place at 2:30pm by the Step Short Arch on the Leas this Sunday.