Harry Billinge MBE, D-Day hero from Cornwall dies aged 96

Adored war veteran Harry Billinge MBE passed away peacefully at home this morning (Tues).

The WW2 hero raised ten of thousands of pounds in his lifetime - collecting money for military causes and selling poppies.

D-Day veteran Harry Billinge raises money for the Poppy Appeal at the Par Market in Cornwall.

Last April he achieved his lifelong dream of seeing the creation of a D-Day memorial in France and vowed to continue to "tell that story'' until he died.

He said it was his "greatest wish" was to see a memorial built in his lifetime that would honour men who died on Gold Beach in 1944.

Archive photo of World War Two veteran Harry Billinge.

Harry, of St Austell in Cornwall, was awarded an MBE and also had a GWR train named after him.

Last year he travelled back across the Channel to support a tribute recording the names of all 22,442 service personnel who died under British command on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.

Archive photo of World War Two veteran Harry Billinge in Normandy. As an 18-year-old Sapper with the Royal Engineers, Mr Billinge landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, 6th June 1944.

And after collecting at least £50K towards the construction of the memorial, he said he was incredibly moved to see the names of his fallen friends carved in stone during the unveiling.

But instead of coming home to put his feet up - Harry was soon out collecting again.

He spent an incredible 69 years raising money for military charities - and said his new-found 'celebrity status' meant people queued to put money in his tin.

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He leaves behind wife Sheila and daughter Margot.

Paying tribute, The British Legion said: "Man Down. I am saddened to inform you that our brother Horace ’Harry’ Billinge, has passed away this morning at home.

D-Day veteran Harry Billinge raises money for the Poppy Appeal at the Par Market in Cornwall.

''Harry a veteran of the ‘D’ Day landings and orchestrator of the Normandy memorial, which he got to see recently with his family, shortly after receiving his MBE from the HM The Queen. RIP Harry."

Steve Double MP paid tribute calling him "a hero, plain and simple".

He wrote: "Incredibly sad to hear of the passing of St Austell's Harry Billinge. Harry was a hero, plain and simple.

''For his actions on D-Day and service for his country all those years ago.'

"And in later years his tireless fundraising for a Normandy Memorial, something which he saw realised during his lifetime.

''Thank you Harry, for your service. My thoughts are with your family and all those whose lives you touched."

Mr Billing was just 18 in 1944, serving with the Royal Engineers, when he was part of the first wave on Gold Beach.

Speaking when he returned from France last year, he said: "I don't think I could give you words to it, about how I felt.

"It was very, very moving for me, and it still moves me now.

''I had a wonderful time because everyone there knows me now in Normandy.

"I was overwhelmed with kindness and loving people.

"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.

"I'm still collecting though, because they're going to build an educational centre there now, so it's not quite finished yet.

"I found a couple of my mate's graves there, namely a man called Leeds, he had a three week old baby at the time when he died.

"He died in my arms. My generation saved the world.

"If you've got something that is overpoweringly important to you, then you'll do it.

''I'm not ready to die yet, I've still got things to do, and that's why I'm taking it easy now.

"Everything I've done has been for the memorial, and people all over the world now know me.

"I'm not a proud man, pride is a deadly sin, but I am very happy that I was able to collect money and do my bit".