War veteran Harry Billinge

Harry Billinge passed away aged 96 following a short illness last month. He spent his life raising money for charity and ensuring the sacrifices made by his ...

The duty to remember.” 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. 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. Harry was a “committed” Christian and inside his coffin is his bible that he got on the coronation of Elizabeth II. Harry, of St Austell, Cornwall, last year said he completed his “final mission” in returning to France to open a memorial he helped secure on the beaches of Normandy. And to pay tribute to his dedication and service, the streets of his home town were lined with well-wishers seeing him off on his final journey.

Cornish town flooded with mourners paying respects to soldier who lead campaign for national memorial to comrades who died in battle.

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. "Dad was always there to guide us. It was also aired on speakers outside the church. All the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them." Mr Witchell described Mr Billinge as a "wisp of a man with a winning smile" and spoke of his "selfless commitment to honour his friends".

The funeral of WWII war hero and veteran fundraiser Harry Billinge is to take place today. A large-scale procession, funeral service and even a beer ...

Members of the Armed Forces will join a Guard of Honour at Harry Billinge's funeral today. Church bells are ringing in Charlestown as people have started taking their seats in the church and gathering outside. The brewery will also be making a special beer in Harry's memory to be served on the day and it is inviting name suggestions for this. Paddy Stavros said: "Beautiful memories of Harry this morning, nicely done by Jon and his guests. "Harry moved from London to Cornwall and it was probably the best move he ever made. He raised more than £50,000 for @normandymtrust by collecting in his home town of St Austell. The duty to remember." The funeral of WWII war hero and veteran fundraiser Harry Billinge is to take place today. Reflecting on a life well lived. A wake will be held by the St Austell Brewery at its visitors centre on Trevarthian Road between 1pm-11pm. Harry Billinge died on Tuesday, April 5, after a short illness. This will be followed by a cremation for immediate family only.

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."

Harry 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 Engineer Commandos and ...

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. He was a sapper attached to the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos and one of only four survivors from his unit. And he had such a strong purpose to remember his friends who never came back, and that just fed through his daily life." Harry had a real heart for the guys he'd fought alongside who never came home." We live in Yorkshire but are on holiday here and have come down to pay our respects."

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.