Harry Billinge MBE (15 September 1925 – 5 April 2022) was a British soldier.
Harry Billinge | |
|---|---|
 Billinge as a soldier and veteran | |
| Born | 15 September 1925 |
| Died | 5 April 2022 (aged 96) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
Billinge was born on 15 September 1925.[1] He served as a sapper with the 44 Royal Engineer Commandos during the Normandy landings.[2] After World War II, Billinge moved to Cornwall and opened a hairdressers.[3]
In a 2019 interview with BBC Billinge was quoted as saying "Don't thank me and don't say I'm a hero. I'm no hero, I was lucky, I'm here. All the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them as long as I live."[4]
Billinge was appointed MBE in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to charitable fundraising, including raising more than £25,000 towards the cost of construction of the British Normandy Memorial.[5]
Billinge died on 5 April 2022, at the age of 96. A funeral was held at St Paul's Church in Charlestown on 26 April 2022.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Harry Billinge". Veterans' Foundation. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
- ^ Middleton, Joe (5 April 2022). "D-Day veteran Harry Billinge dies aged 96 as daughter pays tribute". The Independent.
- ^ "Forces for Good - An interview with Harry Billinge". Freemasonry Today. 6 June 2021.
- ^ "D-Day veteran Harry Billinge: 'I'm no hero - I was lucky'". Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "New Year Honours: MBE for D-Day veteran Harry Billinge". BBC News. 28 December 2019.
- ^ "Harry Billinge: Hundreds at funeral of D-Day veteran". BBC News. 26 April 2022.
External links
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