D-Day veteran Harry Billinge has died aged 96 after a short illness, his family has said.
The former Royal Engineer, who lived in St Austell in Cornwall, 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 was one of only four survivors from his unit.
Mr Billinge later fought in Caen and the Falaise pocket in Normandy.
His daughter Sally Billinge-Shandley told the PA news agency: “He was a man that always gave his word, his word was solid. He always fought for what he believed in.
“The passion he had for all the veterans that lost their lives was unwavering.
“How he dedicated his life to making sure that was never forgotten, that’s how he’ll be remembered.
“The memorial for the Normandy veterans just became part of him; it was just a huge part of his life.
“Some of his last words were, ‘Love one another.’”
Mr Billinge, a proud Cockney, 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.
Prior to his death, he made annual pilgrimages to the cemeteries of Normandy.
Mr Billinge was made an MBE in 2019 for charitable fundraising after collecting more than £50,000 for veterans.
He dedicated it to the 22,442 service personnel killed on D-Day and during the Battle for Normandy.
A year later, he said he was “deeply moved” after a Great Western Railway (GWR) Intercity Express train was named after him to mark 75 years since the end of the Second World War.
Mr Billinge also collected donations for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for more than 60 years and also raised funds for the British Normandy Memorial.
A tribute from The British Normandy Trust, posted on Twitter, said: “The Trust sends its deepest condolences to Harry’s wife Sheila, and to all his family and friends. Harry raised more than £50,000 for the Memorial.”
GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We’re so sad to hear about the passing of our dear friend, Harry Billinge MBE.
“It was our absolute honour to name one of our trains after him in October 2020 and we will never forget the impact he had on so many.
“Intercity Express Train 802006 provides a lasting tribute to Harry and those thousands of lives lost during the Normandy landings in 1944.”
A spokesperson for the Royal British Legion said: “Everyone at the Royal British Legion is incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Harry Billinge. He epitomised the spirit of our wartime generation and his dedication supporting veterans causes, including the Poppy Appeal, was nothing short of remarkable.
“His legacy will be his determination and fundraising efforts towards establishing the British Normandy Memorial, a permanent memorial to those who fell on D-Day and in the Battle of Normandy, ensuring that their names will live on for many generations to come.”
Mr Billinge is survived by his wife Shelia, two daughters Sally and Margot, his 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.
