Harry Billinge

Harry Billinge was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos and was one of only four survivors from his unit.

"Harry raised more than £50,000 for the Memorial." He always fought for what he believed in. He was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos and was one of only four survivors from his unit.

The war hero was 18 in 1944 when he was part of the first wave on Gold Beach.

There was nothing better than sitting down with him and listening to stories about his life. He was a bundle of fun and a pleasure to have known. He devoted his life to the people that never came home from the Normandy invasion, saying his "greatest wish" was to see a memorial built in his lifetime that would honour those men. Thinking of your family and friends at this time." For his actions on D-Day and service for his country all those years ago. Paying tribute, 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.

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 ...

He always fought in what he believed in.” He always fought for what he believed in. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. He wrote: “Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of St Austell’s Harry Billinge. Harry was a hero, plain and simple. “He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid. His daughter Sally Billinge-Shandley said: “He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid.

The former Royal Engineer, who lived in St Austell in Cornwall, was just 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944 ...

Not only did the number of wounded exceed expectations, but the means to evacuate them did not exist Bilinge was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos and was one of only four survivors from his unit. Forward 14/45 guns of the US Navy battleship USS Nevada fire on positions ashore during the D-Day landings on Utah Beach. The only artillery support for the troops making these tentative advances was from the navy. He was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos and was one of only four survivors from his unit. But stubborn German defence delayed efforts to take the beach and led to significant delays Some 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. An accurate figure for casualties incurred by V Corps at Omaha on 6 June is not known; sources vary between 2,000 and over 5,000 killed, wounded, and missing To reach the beach they had to wade through water sometimes neck deep Most commanders had fallen or were absent, and there were few ways to communicate Some 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel in over 5,000 ships were involved. D-Day veteran Harry Billinge (pictured left with his medals while fundraising in St Austell, Cornwall) has died aged 96 after a short illness, his family has said. Some of his last words were, "Love one another.'''

The former Royal Engineer was just 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944.

Harry raised more than £50,000 for the Memorial.” He always fought for what he believed in. He set up shop as a barber and became president of the local clubs for the Royal British Legion and Royal Engineers.

TRIBUTES have poured in following the announcement that Harry Billinge MBE, a D-Day veteran, has died aged 96.

"I'm no hero. I was lucky, I'm here. BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker tweeted: "How sad to hear that D-Day veteran Harry Billinge has died at the age of 96. "He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid." Reacting to the news, the Veterans Charity said: "We are deeply saddened to learn that dear Harry Billinge MBE has passed away. Ms Billinge-Shandley said: "The passion he had for all the veterans that lost their lives was unwavering.

ONE of Britain's last surviving D-Day heroes has died after decades of service.Veteran Harry Billinge has passed away at the age of 96 after a short i.

Veteran Harry Billinge has passed away at the age of 96 after a short illness, his family has said. His daughter Sally Billinge-Shandley said: "The passion he had for all the veterans that lost their lives was unwavering. Harry Billinge dead aged 96 – one of Britain’s last surviving D-Day heroes dies after decades of service

The former Royal Engineer was 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944.

He always fought for what he believed in. The former Royal Engineer from St Austell, Cornwall was just 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944. The former Royal Engineer was 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944

The former Royal Engineer was just 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944. He was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal ...

It will remind people of the fine men who fought that day, lots of whom never went back home again. Having a train named after me is a great honour. He always fought for what he believed in.

The former Royal Engineer was just 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944. | ITV News West Country.

"He has a real stake in our hearts, a real stake in the memorial and this is very much Harry's memorial. He always fought in what he believed in. "He has been tireless in prompting the trustees to get on and get the memorial in place, raising money and raising the profile of this wonderful memorial.

One of Britain's last surviving D-Day heroes has died aged 96 just a year after completing his 'final mission' - helping create a memorial to his…

He wrote: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of St Austell's Harry Billinge. Harry was a hero, plain and simple. "It was a very sad visit for me, and I've never been able to forget D-Day, it's a really sad day - has been all my life. ''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." And after collecting at least £50K towards the construction of the memorial, he said he was incredibly moved to see the names of his fallen friends carved in stone during the unveiling. He said it was his "greatest wish" was to see a memorial built in his lifetime that would honour men who died on Gold Beach in 1944. 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.