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Relatives gather to remember Walter
Tull

by Graham Tutthill

More people have pledged their support to the campaign for
former Kent schoolboy Walter Tull to receive the Military
Cross for his courageous leadership in the First World War. Some of
his relatives from Maidstone were among those at the launch of a
book about Walter's life.

The launch took place at The Grand Hotel in Folkestone on
Friday, an event attended by the Deputy High Commissioner for
Barbados, as well as some of Walter’s surviving relatives.

It has been written by Phil Vasili who said it was time the
injustice of Walter not receiving the medal was put right.

"The family have the letters of recommendation," said Mr Vasili.
"He thoroughly deserved it. Officers were not normally allowed to
tell members of a family that such a recommendation had been made.
I think they consciously made the decision to tell the Tull
family.

"The MOD say it would set a precedent. They broke the rules in
making him an officer because it suited them, so they can set a
precedent again and award him the Military Cross. I think that
wrong should be righted.

"If he is to get it, it will come about by the force of public
opinion."

Donville Johnson, Deputy High Commissioner for Barbados,
said that while details of Walter’s life were known in this
country, little was known of him in Barbados.

"People in Barbados will now be made aware of him and copies of
this book will be distributed to all the libraries and schools," he
said.

"There is another Walter Tull in Barbados and I will be
contacting him so more research can be done.

"We will also pledge to be a partner with you in the fight for
recognition of that Military Cross for Walter.

"If there was ever a time when young people needed positive role
models, it is now."

Peter Daniel, from Westminster City Archives, explained how he
became involved in the research of Walter’s life, and involved the
children from Mundella School - which Walter attended - in making a
film about him, and performing a musical in London.

Children from the school sang two of the songs at the book
launch.

Walter's grand-niece Rita Humphrey and her husband Charles, from
Maidstone, took part in the launch.

John Hughes, from Action for Children -
the new name for the National Children’s Home - said the book
offered a tantalising glimpse of life at the home in Bonner Road,
Bethnal Green. "Walter Tull is the embodiment of the values of
Action for Children," he said.

"We are proud to be associated with this man, this leader of
men, a role model for young and old. He was a hero."

Folkestone Mayor Cllr Janet Andrews revealed that two plaques
commemorating Walter Tull are to be installed in the town, one in
the Garden of Remembrance and the other at Mundella School.

"His achievements will encourage others to make their mark in
life," she said.

Dover Mayor Cllr Sue Jones paid tribute to the research carried
out by the Dover War Memorial Project into Walter Tull’s life and
said there could be further fascinating tales like Walter’s to be
discovered.A television documentary and drama about Walter’s life
were broadcast in 2008, and a play is now to be performed.

The book, All The Guns In France Couldn’t Wake Me, is published
by Raw Press, and is available from
www.rawpress.co.uk, phone 0207 585
2350.