HEARTFELT tributes have been paid to a World War II veteran of D-Day who has died at the age of 97.

Walter Evans, of Glusburn, was known and loved by generations of schoolchildren at Glusburn Community Primary School, where he worked as a volunteer non-teaching assistant for 18 years until 2017. He was believed to be the oldest school assistant in the country. In July 2015, Walter returned to the beaches of Normandy - where, though a tank driver, he had been forced to wade ashore up to his neck in water as part of the Allied invasion forces on ‘Gold’ beach - accompanied by two teachers, Richard Hunt and Mike Clayton, from the school. After the visit he was awarded the Legion D’ Honneur, one of France’s highest military honours, by the French Government.

Children from Glusburn School gave a ‘salute of applause’ as the cortege passed on the way to the funeral service at Cross Hills Evangelical Church. Glusburn headteacher Richard Hunt, who delivered a eulogy, said: “He not only gave his friendship to the staff and children, but his commitment to our school - often the first to arrive - and gave his courage and bravery to our country. Our companionship was pure and unconditional. I cherished sharing ‘Whisky with Walter.’ Gentleman, Normandy veteran and a very special friend - he will be greatly missed.”

Walter was born in Scotland, but moved to Birmingham at a young age. At 17, he joined the Territorial Army and trained to be a searchlight operator. He was called up before the war broke out in September 1939 and became a tank driver.

He was posted to Keighley to train other tank drivers. He met his late wife Doreen and married her in the run-up to D Day.

As well as fighting its way through France, Walter’s tank division also took part in supporting British paratroopers who were trying to capture the bridge at Arnhem. The failed operation was later the subject of the film ‘A Bridge Too Far.’

After the war Walter became a cost estimator and worked for aerospace manufacturers Pratt and Whitney in Britain, the United States and Canada. He and Doreen had five children.

Speaking to the Herald in 2014, Walter said: “I absolutely love being at the school - it saved me.

“It’s a joy going in every day. Not long ago one of the five-year-olds came up to me and said: ‘Mr Evans? You’re the man from the Second World War!’”