Mr Walter Wallis, a former pharmacist and branch manager with Boots the Chemists, received the Légion d'honneur from the French government on the occasion of his 101st birthday to mark his service as a member of the Coldstream Guard in France during the 1914-18 war.
Speaking to The Journal on November 30, his daughter Miss Irene Wallis said that her father had been apprenticed to a chemist and druggist before the war. He had joined the Coldstream Guard two days before his 18th birthday, chosing that regiment because an uncle was a regular in it. After training he served in France until 1919 as part of the regiment's pioneer battalion. It is for this service to France that he has received his honour.
After leaving the army, Mr Wallis returned to his training, qualifying in 1923. He started work for Boots, initially in Nottingham and Uxbridge, before moving to become manager of the company's store in Horsham, West Sussex, in 1934. He worked there until his retirement in 1963 after which he went on to manage an independent pharmacy in Crawley for 10 years. Finally, he undertook locum work for Boots in Horsham until the age of 79 years. Mr Wallis retired from the register in 1990.
Mr Wallis received his medal on October 14, his 101st birthday, in a ceremony at the nursing home in Horsham where he now lives. The medal was presented on behalf of the French Embassy by Major Michael Hall, vice-president of the West Sussex branch of the Coldstream Guards Association.

Mr Wallis (seated) with his daughter and Major Hall