D-Day veteran Harry Billinge dies aged 96 as daughter pays tribute

His daughter Sally Billinge-Shandley said her father ‘always fought in what he believed in’

Harry Billinge in 2018 returning to Gold Beach where he landed on D-Day in 1944 (PA)

D-Day veteran Harry Billinge has died aged 96 after a short illness, his family has confirmed.

Mr Billinge, from St Austell in Cornwall, was 18 and a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos when he was sent to land on Gold Beach in 1944.

He was was one of only four survivors from his unit and later fought in Caen and the Falaise pocket in Normandy.

His daughter Sally Billinge-Shandley said: “He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid. He always fought for what he believed in.

“The passion he had for all the veterans that lost their lives was unwavering.

“How he dedicated his life to making sure that was never forgotten, that’s how he’ll be remembered.

“The memorial for the Normandy veterans just became part of him; it was just a huge part of his life.

“Some of his last words were, ‘Love one another’.

Harry Billinge was made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II in March 2020 (PA)

“He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid. He always fought in what he believed in.”

Mr Billinge grew up in Petts Wood in Kent but had been in Cornwall for 70 years after being advised to leave London for a better quality of life.

He set up shop as a barber and became president of the local clubs for the Royal British Legion and Royal Engineers.

Prior to his death, he made annual pilgrimages to the cemeteries of Normandy.

Mr Billinge was made an MBE in 2019 for charitable fundraising after collecting more than £50,000 for veterans.

Last April he achieved his lifelong dream of seeing the creation of a D-Day memorial in France and vowed to continue to “tell that story” until he died.

Harry Billinge fundraising in St Austell High Street in Cornwall (PA)

The British Legion said: “Man Down. I am saddened to inform you that our brother Horace ‘Harry’ Billinge, has passed away this morning at home.

“Harry a veteran of the ‘D’ Day landings and orchestrator of the Normandy memorial, which he got to see recently with his family, shortly after receiving his MBE from the HM The Queen. RIP Harry.”

Conservative MP Steve Double paid tribute calling him “a hero, plain and simple”.

He wrote: “Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of St Austell’s Harry Billinge. Harry was a hero, plain and simple.

“For his actions on D-Day and service for his country all those years ago.’ “And in later years his tireless fundraising for a Normandy Memorial, something which he saw realised during his lifetime.

“Thank you Harry, for your service. My thoughts are with your family and all those whose lives you touched.”

Harry Billinge, aged 18, before he fought during D-Day (PA)

Mr Billings also had a Great Western Railway (GWR) Intercity Express train named after him to mark 75 years since the end of the Second World War.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We’re so sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend, Harry Billinge MBE.

“It was our absolute honour to name one of our trains after him in October 2020 and we will never forget the impact he had on so many.

“Intercity Express Train 802006 provides a lasting tribute to Harry and those thousands of lives lost during the Normandy landings in 1944.”

Mr Billinge is survived by his wife Shelia, two daughters Sally and Margot, his son Christopher and granddaughters Amy and Claire.

Mr and Mrs Billinge were married for 67 years and were due to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary in August.

Additional reporting by agencies