Harry Billinge

Mourners have lined the streets of Cornwall for the funeral of war hero Harry Billinge | ITV News West Country.

In his efforts to raise money for the memorial he found great peace. "When he got the brochure about the British Normandy Memorial in the post, he felt compelled to start collecting. The service will be followed by a private cremation for his immediate family. After moving to St Austell from London, the veteran ran a barber shop for many years and then a family funeral business. "As a dad, he taught us great values: honesty, kindness, generosity and not to judge. But, of course, it amounted to much more than that."

The coffin for Mr Billinge, who died aged 96 earlier this month, was carried through his home town of St Austell before a church service at St Paul's in ...

"As a dad, he taught us great values: kindness, generosity, and not to judge." All the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them." The coffin for Mr Billinge, who died aged 96 earlier this month, was carried through his home town of St Austell before a church service at St Paul's in Charlestown.

Harry Billinge MBE was just 18 when he landed on Gold Beach on June 6, 1944, he dedicated much of his life to honouring his fallen comrades.

One of those was to never forget the friends he left behind in Normandy in that summer of 1944.” The Rev Canon Bowers said: “He arranged this service only a few months ago when, I think, he realised his health was failing. Mr Billinge grew up in Petts Wood in Kent but lived in Cornwall for 70 years after being advised to leave London for a better quality of life. Let There Be Peace on Earth, a song singer and TV presenter Aled Jones recorded with Mr Billinge for his album Blessings in 2020, was played during the service. “Harry was a deeply spiritual man with an unyielding sense of what was right. The generation who stepped forward to do its duty when the future of this country was at peril.”

The funeral of Mr Billinge, who died earlier this month aged 96, was held in his home town of St Austell on Tuesday.

One of those was to never forget the friends he left behind in Normandy in that summer of 1944.” In his efforts to raise money for the memorial, he found great peace. It gave him a purpose; meeting with members of the public kept him going. “Harry was a deeply spiritual man with an unyielding sense of what was right. “Dad was always there to guide us. The generation who stepped forward to do its duty when the future of this country was at peril.” Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Harry knew the reality. Mr Witchell said taking Mr Billinge to Normandy to see the memorial last year was an “emotional experience”, and revealed that the first thing he did was look for the names of friends and the soldiers he fought with. He said Mr Billinge had an unwavering dedication to preserving the memory of his friends and that is how the two met in a shared desire to have a memorial built in Normandy for the British soldiers who had fallen there. “People warmed to this wisp of a man with a winning smile, and his selfless commitment to honour the memory of his friends. Mr Billinge was 18 when he was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach during the Normandy invasion in 1944.

The funeral service for 96-year-old World War II serviceman and Royal British Legion fundraiser Harry Billinge, at St Paul's Church in Charlestown · (Image: PA).

When he set out his aim was to collect a pound for everyone who died on the beach on D-Day. In his efforts to raise money for the memorial, he found great peace. “When he got the brochure about the British Normandy Memorial in the post, he felt compelled to start collecting. "It was a very good service, Harry planned it himself. During the service, Nicholas Witchell from the D-Day Memorial Trust gave a loving eulogy to the 96-year-old. “As a dad, he taught us great values: honesty, kindness, generosity and not to judge. He always said to me I ain't the hero, my mates I left behind on D-Day - they were. The bells of St Paul's Church could be heard for blocks around in anticipation of the hearse arriving. He passed away on Tuesday, April 5, after a short illness, having won the hearts of the nation with his efforts to fundraise a D-Day war memorial. The hearse was then driven to St Paul's Church in Charlestown, where even more people waited. Local man Steve Prosser, who arrived an hour before, told Cornwall Live that Harry was "a gentleman." Hundreds turned out to pay their respects to a D-Day legend today (Tuesday), as the funeral service for Harry Billinge took place.

The funeral takes place today of Harry Billinge MBE, one of the first British soldiers to reach Gold Beach during the Normandy landings in 1944.

Harry holds France's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur and will be remembered for his fundraising work for the memorial to the 22,442 service personnel killed on D-Day, for which he was appointed an MBE in 2019. The D-Day veteran spent more than 60 years collecting for the Royal British Legion. He helped raise more than £50,000 for the British Normandy Memorial and would visit the site in Northern France each year. Harry, from St Austell, Cornwall, died earlier this month aged 96.

Hundreds have gathered in the streets for the funeral of late D-Day veteran Harry Billinge in Cornwall today. The coffin for Mr Billinge, who died aged 96 ...

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