Harry Billinge

Harry Billinge MBE (15 September 1925 – 5 April 2022) was a British soldier.

Harry Billinge MBE
Billinge as a soldier and veteran
Born	(1925-09-15)15 September 1925
Died	5 April 2022(2022-04-05) (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] He was also awarded the Legion d'Honneur.^[6]

In 2020, train company GWR named one of their Class 802 trains after him.^[7]

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.^[8]