War veteran and ‘world’s oldest paper boy’ Walter Sharp, 106

Walter Sharp died on Wednesday morning, 12 days after celebrating his birthday on August 7, and months after his West Highland terrier, who he was inseparable from, passed away.

He was born three days after the outbreak of the First World War, on August 7 1914, and was one of five children.

Mr Sharp earned a clutch of medals in recognition of the service he gave to his country over a sixyear period, including France’s Legion of Honour and the African Star, and toured several countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.

During his career in the military he met his wife-to-be, Doris, who died in 1990, while serving in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps in Surrey. The couple wed in Horley, West Sussex, in 1944, on the first day the bells rang after being silent in the war.

They had a son called Brian.

Mr Sharp saw harrowing scenes in his military career including 20 men killed in a bomb blast in Portsmouth, Hampshire, on his first night in the Army.

But he travelled widely in the Army and fondly remembered his adventures.

Mr Sharp recalled: “We went right through Africa and over to Bari in Italy and that was the best Christmas present I ever got.

“We were all singing Pack Up Your Troubles and this brigadier said ‘Stop singing that song, you’re going home for the second front’.

“That was in the December but it was the March before we did.

“We thought we would be eating just vegetables in Africa but it was meat and vegetables every day.

“In Italy, there were 12 at a table and if it was good you used to wash the dinner set and go back and join the queue again.”

But in post-war times his favourite meal was fried egg and chips, which was how he celebrated his 105th birthday last year.

Speaking then, he said: “Everybody stops me and asks me what age I am – the school kids are the best. Nobody can believe I’ m 105.”

On May 8 this year as the nation celebrated the 75th anniversary of VE Day, Mr Sharp stood in his garden, proudly wearing his medals, and saluted their sacrifice.

And he earned the nickname ‘the world’s oldest paperboy’ after getting up at 6.30am to deliver newspapers to his neighbours on Carmuirs Avenue, in Camelon, where he lived until his death.

Mr Sharp gave up his paper round in 2017 as his eyesight started to fail.

He was also mad about East Stirlingshire FC and would watch home matches with Brian.

Mr Sharp was inseparable from his West Highland terrier, Harry, who died earlier this year aged 14.

The OAP died in Forth Valley Royal Hospital, Falkirk.

Picture: SWNS. Walter Sharp, 106, with his four-legged best friend Harry.