The Royal Mint has revealed the first image of the £5 limited edition coin, honouring Britain’s first black army officer Walter Tull.

Tull who was also one of the first black footballers, was born in Folkestone, Kent, the son of Barbadian carpenter Daniel Tull and Kent-born Alice Elizabeth Palmer. His grandmother was a slave in Barbados. Tull was of mixed heritage, and was referred to as “black”.

Tull fought in the First World War and became the first black combat officer in the British army, despite a military rule excluding “negroes” from exercising actual command.

He would be later praised for leading his company of 26 men to safety in Italy, but returned to northern France where he was killed in March 1918.

Rest In Peace Walter Tull.

CLICK HERE to watch ‘Walter Tull Forgotten Hero’ (Documentary).