Cornwall pays final farewell to D-Day veteran Harry Billinge at funeral
Hundreds of people lined the streets of St Austell and Charlestown to show their respects
Hundreds of people have come together in Cornwall to wish a final farewell to D-Day veteran Harry Billinge.
The 96-year-old, from St Austell, passed away on the 5th April 2022 following a short illness.
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 one of only four survivors from his unit. He later fought in Caen and the Falaise pocket in Normandy.
On Tuesday (26th April) he was honoured by a funeral procession, which passed the war memorial cross outside Holy Trinity Church in St Austell, and a guard of honour, which included standard bearers, and Requiem Mass at St Paul’s Church in nearby Charlestown.
During the hour-long service, led by the Revd Canon Malcolm Bowers, a eulogy was read by Nicholas Witchell, a journalist and founding trustee of the Normandy Memorial Trust.
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”.
He said Mr Billinge arrived back from the war with “mental scars” and was appalled to see the events unfolding in Ukraine.
“‘War is a terrible thing’ he said, and he knew just how terrible.”
Let There Be Peace on Earth, a song singer and TV presenter Aled Jones recorded with Mr Billinge for his album Blessings in 2020, was played during the service.
Afterwards, bugle call The Last Post was played and a moment of silence was observed.
Items adorning Mr Billinge’s coffin included a bible, cross, poppy wreath, his picture, his Royal Engineers beret and a Union Jack pillow displaying his medals.
Revd Canon Bowers said: “He arranged this service only a few months ago when, I think, he realised his health was failing.
“He faced death with the same bravery he showed on the Normandy beaches.”
The service was also livestreamed to a nearby community centre with seats for 120 people and aired on speakers outside the church.
Hundreds attended to pay their respects to Mr Billinge, many gathering in St Austell and on the road outside the church in Charlestown.
Among those paying their respects outside the church were Steve and Paula. They told us: "As a child I can remember getting my hair cut by him, then we lost contact, and then we went to Par market and we saw him there, so every time we came to Cornwall we went to Par market to see him. We live in Yorkshire but are on holiday here and have come down to pay our respects."
Linda Stefan knew Harry for 15 years was also there. She said: "He loved his Normandy association and loved what he did, he was very proud to meet the Queen and have a train named after him, it was lovely."
The former Royal Engineer was awarded an MBE after collecting more than £50,000 towards a memorial for the 22,442 service personnel killed on D-Day and during the Battle of Normandy.
Julie Verne from the Normandy Memorial Trust told us what she thinks made Harry so special: "His mischievousness, his sense of humour and love of life, and not letting any moment go and pass without it having a meaning or a purpose. And he had such a strong purpose to remember his friends who never came back, and that just fed through his daily life."
Richard Palusinski, chair of Spirit of Normandy Trust, said: "I was out in Normandy last October, exactly six months since Harry visited the memorial and saw his name inscribed in stone, which was an extremely moving experience. Harry had a real heart for the guys he'd fought alongside who never came home."
On the eve of the service, Margot Billinge, one of Mr Billinge’s daughters, spoke of her pride in her father’s life.
“Harry was a very loving husband who always looked after mum. He was steadfast in his love for her,” she said.
“As a dad, he taught us great values: honesty, kindness, generosity and not to judge.
“Dad was always there to guide us. He was always a very charitable man and collected for the Poppy Appeal for over 65 years.
“When he got the brochure about the British Normandy Memorial in the post, he felt compelled to start collecting. In his efforts to raise money for the memorial, he found great peace.
“The original idea was to collect £1 for each of his comrades that died on the beaches – 22,442. But, of course, it amounted to much more than that. It gave him a purpose; meeting with members of the public kept him going.
“In an interview with the BBC a few years ago on Remembrance Sunday, I recall him saying he just wanted to be remembered as ‘a good old sapper who did his best’.
“He also said, ‘I hope I shall live in the hearts of people who won’t forget Harry’.
“Harry wanted future generations to never forget his comrades who fell in Normandy. If members of the public would like to pay their respects to Harry, we ask that they become guardians of the British Normandy Memorial.
“We would very much like the work towards the Memorial and the education centre to continue in Harry’s name.”
Harry grew up in Petts Wood in Kent but had been in Cornwall for 70 years after being advised to leave London for a better quality of life.
He set up shop as a barber and became president of the local clubs for the Royal British Legion and Royal Engineers.
Mr Billinge is survived by his wife Sheila, daughters Sally and Margot, son Christopher and granddaughters Amy and Claire.
Mr and Mrs Billinge were married for 67 years and were due to celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary in August.