D-DAY HERO BACK ON DUTY FOR 68TH YEAR
Harry rattling tin after Normandy visit
ONE of Britain’s last surviving D-Day heroes is back on duty, rattling his collection tin for the 68th consecutive year.
Harry Billinge, 96, is raising funds for The British Normandy Memorial in France, which he finally visited last month after Covid rules stopped him attending the unveiling in June.
He said it was his “last duty” to pay tribute to fallen friends who died on Gold Beach during the landings of June 6, 1944.
The veteran travelled across the Channel to see the monument, which records the names of all 22,442 service personnel who died under British command on D-Day and at the Battle of Normandy.
Harry, who collected at least £50,000 towards the memorial, said he was incredibly moved to see the names of fallen friends.
He added: “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 was just 18 and serving as a sapper with the 59th Independent
Commando Squadron of the Royal Engineers when he was part of the first wave on Gold Beach.
He was overwhelmed to see the name of a friend on the monument.
Harry said: “I found a couple of my mates’ graves there, namely a man called Leeds, he had a threeweek-old baby at the time when he died.
“He died in my arms. My generation saved the world.”
Instead of putting his feet up after returning home, Harry is back out collecting three days a week at his local market in St Austell, Cornwall.
The former chairman of the Cornwall branch of the Normandy Veterans Association and president of the Royal Engineers Association has spent 68 years raising money for military charities.
Harry collected for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for 64 years and has supported The
Normandy Memorial Trust since 2018. He hopes to inspire others and keep fundraising for the memorial, where there are plans to build an educational facility.
Harry said: “Other people have been so inspired, the commandos, 24 Commando, gave me a cheque towards the monument for £4,000.
“I cant put words to any of it, everyone was lining up yesterday to put money in my tin.”
Harry described himself as “tired but happy” after returning from France. He added: “It was very, very moving, and it still moves me now. I had a wonderful time, everyone there knows me now.”
The memorial, designed by architect Liam O’Connor, cost nearly £30million and stands on a hillside overlooking Gold Beach.
I found the grave of a mate who had a baby, he died in my arms
HARRY BILLINGE ON VISIT TO NEW MEMORIAL