Acoustic, folk, folk rock Ashley Cowan
BBC Introducing London Airplay

The Battle For Walter Tull played out on BBC London 94.9FM
March 9th 2013
THIS WAS RECORDED FROM THE RADIO = not the best quality. The original song on this site has better quality: Find it here: soundcloud.com/ashleycowan/01-...for-walter-tull

A song based on the true story of Britain's first ever black hero Walter Tull. Walter became the first ever black professional outfield footballer in the UK and the first ever black army officer for the British Army, even though in 1917 the army rule book forbid "any negro or person of colour" from becoming an officer. Tull received his commission in May, 1917. He played 111 times for Northampton Town FC and was signed by Rangers FC before he left to fight in the first world war.

JOIN THE FACEBOOK PETITION to get Walter awarded with a posthumus Military Cross
facebook.com/groups/33844959524

Sign the e petition: epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41209

wsc.co.uk/the-archive/28-TV-wa...ootballing-hero

Walter Tull died in 1918, shot by a German gun
Private Billingham tried to get to his body, but it couldn’t be done
And as Walter fell, his story died too,
Britain’s first black hero and no one would know the truth

Born in Folkestone in 1888, Walter’s parents died when he was young
Sent to an orphanage in Bethnal Green, a new life in East London
And Walter started playing football and he signed for Tottenham Hotspurs
But the racist abuse down at the Bristol ground
meant they dropped him to the reserves

Walter didn’t care he moved to Northampton Town FC,
Played 111 games before the war intervened
Signed up with his team and they went to the front line
An officer saw something in him that would change the course of time

And if you look in the book of the time
It says only white men can lead the line
But in 1917 Walter stepped out for King and Queen
The first black man to lead the whites,
He fought in six battles before the end of his life
He should have won the MC (Military) cross but the army somehow forgot

Oh Walter you’re a hero, a hero to this land
The first black outfield footballer, the first black officer man
Oh Walter you’re a hero, a hero to my country
Fighting for truth and justice now, something you would never see

Walter Tull, know his name

MASSIVE THANKS to Billy Playle for his editing, bass, drums, cello, mix mastering AND patience, Louise Ring Vangsgaard for her amazing fiddle, Asger Hoyer for his hospitality and recording patience (and one of the acoustic guitars is him!!!) and Fred Jam for all his help and enthusiasm!

Please also check out this excellent website on the history of black footballers in the UK
vasili.co.uk

Watch the slide show!
youtube.com/watch?v=VE93jz4vsB0