AS the first black officer in the British Army, Walter Tull’s life was portrayed in a remarkable new play premiered at the Octagon Theatre — now he will be commemorated on a new £5 coin. Melanie Wallwork reports.

WALTER Tull was a remarkable man.

Not only was he one of the first black footballers to play top level football in Great Britain, he also fought in World War One, becoming the first black officer in the British Army.

Now, he will be remembered on a set of coins, produced by The Royal Mint.

The silver £5 coin shows a portrait of Walter Tull with a backdrop of infantry going “over the top” as a tragic reminder of so many men’s sacrifice, as the world continues to remember the centenary of the outbreak of World War One.

Tull — the play depicting his inspiring yet tragic life story — was staged at the Octagon in February.

The play was written by Phil Vasili, author of a Walter Tull biography, who worked alongside the Octagon’s artistic director David Thacker to create the world premiere production.

Speaking of the new coin, Mr Thacker said: “All of us at the Octagon are thrilled that Walter Tull has been honoured in this way.

“We wanted our production of Tull to help bring to public attention the exceptional bravery and courage of this remarkable man.

“All of us were deeply moved by learning more about Walter’s extraordinary life and his achievements, both as a professional footballer and a war hero.

“Walter is an inspiration to everyone who is seeking to create a world in which all people are valued, irrespective of their colour, gender, sexuality and culture.”

Tull first played for Tottenham Hotspur on a tour of Argentina and Uruguay in the summer of 1909.

When the war broke out in 1914, he signed up and soon demonstrated a natural flair to lead and inspire.

Overcoming racial prejudice and military rules, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and became the first black officer in the British Army.

Having fought and survived the first Battle of the Somme, Tull was killed in the second in March 1918, during the German Spring Offensive, at the age of 29.

Playwright Mr Vasili said: “I hope the recognition of Walter Tull’s achievements by the Royal Mint will help raise national awareness of his place in British football and military history.

“He was a reluctant hero. He came to hate the war but like millions of other brave young men his life was cut short in his prime. He was recommended for the military cross. It should now be awarded.”

The coin, designed by David Cornell, is one of a set of six £5 coins released as part of The Royal Mint’s five-year programme of commemoration of the First World War that will tell the story of the emotive journey from outbreak to armistice.

Other coins in this first set include The British Expeditionary Force by John Bergdahl, which captures the optimism of the first troops departing for France.

War artist David Rowlands created the Home Front coin, which depicts a lone figure at work in the fields to honour the role of women, who worked hard to fill jobs vacated by men.

Mr Rowlands also created the coin that celebrates the Royal Navy, depicting a gun drill at sea.

David Lawrence’s design explores the role of propaganda in the war, the posters shown based on actual World War One designs.

The set also includes coins exploring the impact of war on technological developments, by Edwina Ellis, starting with the 2014 coin featuring the Howitzer gun.

The First World War — Outbreak 2014 UK £5 Silver Proof 6 Coin Set is available to buy for £450 from royalmint.com