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

His daughter said that among his last words were “love one another”.

The former Royal Engineer was just 18 when he landed on Gold Beach at H Hour, 6.30am, on 6 June 1944 as part of the first wave of troops.

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

Mr Billinge later fought in Caen and the Falaise pocket in Normandy, and went on to dedicate his life to remembering friends who never made it home.

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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.'”

Tributes to a man dedicated to helping others

Mr Billinge, who grew up in Petts Wood in Kent but had lived in Cornwall for 70 years, was made an MBE in 2019 for charitable fundraising after collecting more than £50,000 for veterans.

He dedicated it to the 22,442 service personnel killed on D-Day and during the Battle for Normandy.

It was in Cornwall that he set up shop as a barber and became president of the local clubs for the Royal British Legion (RBL) and Royal Engineers.

He had also made annual pilgrimages to the cemeteries of Normandy and collected donations for the RBL Poppy Appeal for more than 60 years, as well as raising funds for the British Normandy Memorial.

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The British Normandy Trust posted a tribute to Mr Billinge on Twitter.

“The Trust sends its deepest condolences to Harry’s wife Sheila, and to all his family and friends,” it said. “Harry raised more than £50,000 for the Memorial.”

Great Western Railway, which named one of its trains after the veteran in October 2020, also paid tribute.

Managing director Mark Hopwood said: “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 due to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary this August.

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