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D-Day veteran who landed on Gold Beach at 18 dies aged 96

Fun VLOG April 05, 2022
D-Day veteran who landed on Gold Beach at 18 dies aged 96
The former Royal Engineer made history at the age of 18 when he landed on Gold Beach (Picture: PA)

An ‘inspirational’ D-Day veteran has died – but his legacy ‘will live on for generations to come’, his loved ones say.

Horace Billinge, known as Harry, was just a teenager when he was enlisted to fight in the Second World War.

He was part of the first wave of soldiers to storm Gold Beach in Normandy on D-Day.

The monumental offensive – known as Operation Overlord – liberated France and paved the way for the Allies’ eventual victory in the war.

Harry, then 18, was one of four from the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos to survive.

He had told the BBC in 2019: ‘I’m no hero, I was lucky, I’m here. All the heroes are dead and I’ll never forget them.’

Today, his daughter Sally confirmed news of the 96-year-old’s death.

Undated handout photo issued by the Normandy Memorial Trust of veteran Harry Billinge in 2018 returning to Gold Beach where he landed on D-Day in 1944. Harry Billinge who was one of the first British soldiers to land on Gold Beach in 1944 has died aged 96 after a short illness, his family has said. Issue date: Tuesday April 5, 2022. PA Photo. The former Royal Engineer was just 18 when he stormed the beach in German-occupied Normandy during the landings on June 6. See PA story DEATH Billinge. Photo credit should read: Normandy Memorial Trust/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.
Harry Billinge insisted he wasn’t a hero (Picture: PA)
Undated family handout file photograph of Harry Billinge from St Austell, Cornwall, aged 18 before he fought during D-Day on June 6 1944. The Former Royal Engineer, one of Britain's last surviving D-Day veterans, has had his name placed on a Great Western Railway Intercity Express train. PA Photo. Issue date: Wednesday October 7, 2020. The train operator has dedicated six trains to
As a teenager, he served with the Royal Engineers during a crucial stage in the war (Picture: PA)

She said: ‘The passion he had for all the veterans that lost their lives was unwavering. He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid.’

The Royal British Legion also paid tribute to the Cornwall veteran.

A spokesman said: ‘The Trust sends its deepest condolences to Harry’s wife Sheila, and to all his family and friends.

‘His tireless and inspirational fundraising will never be forgotten and his legacy will live on for generations to come.’

Following the war, Harry spent decades collecting thousands for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

He was also appointed an MBE in 2020 after he raised thousands towards a D-Day memorial.

The British Normandy Memorial, designed by British architect Liam O’Connor, now proudly stands on a hillside overlooking Gold Beach.

It pays tribute to the 22,442 service personnel who died under British command on D-Day.

Harry Billinge from St Austell is made an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II during an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday March 3, 2020. See PA story ROYAL Investiture. Photo credit should read: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
The ‘inspirational’ Harry was made an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 2020 (Picture: PA)
D-Day veteran Harry Billinge raises money for the Poppy Appeal at the Par Market in Cornwall. This is the 64th year Harry has been fundraising for the appeal in the St Austell area of his home county. See SWNS story SWPLharry. One of Britain's last surviving D-Day heroes returned home from France after completing his 'final mission' - and got straight back out collecting for the 68th consecutive year. Harry Billinge, 96, has completed what he described as his 'last duty' to pay tribute to his fallen friends who died on the Gold Beach during the landings in 1944. He travelled back across the Channel to support a tribute recording the names of all 22,442 service personnel who died under British command on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. 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 last month.
The veteran was something of a local celebrity in Cornwall – where people queued to put money in his tins (Picture: James Dadzitis / SWNS)

Harry previously described the memorial as his ‘final mission’.

He said: ‘My generation helped save the world. There are not enough words to describe the feelings I have for those whose names will be on the memorial.

‘But I can tell everyone what they went through. I am unable to forget. How will they remember if I don’t tell them?

‘I am one of the only blokes going now who can describe the horror. The wounded crawling through a sea of red, while bodies, torsos and legs were floating in the sea.

‘I will tell that story right up to the day I die.’

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