Harry Billinge RIP

[JP1]

I know it's not agricultural but I feel it deserves wider coverage than in Off Topic

Harry Billinge: Hundreds at funeral of D-Day veteran

Crowds of well-wishers pay tribute to Harry Billinge as his funeral cortege passes through St Austell.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[JP1]

Harry Billinge: Hundreds at funeral of D-Day veteran​

Published2 hours ago

IMAGE SOURCE,NORMANDY MEMORIAL TRUST/PA WIRE
Image caption,
The former Royal Engineer was 18 when he stormed the beaches during the Normandy landings in 1944
Hundreds have lined the streets for the funeral of Harry Billinge, one of the first British soldiers to storm Gold Beach during the Normandy landings.
Mr Billinge's coffin was taken though his hometown of St Austell in Cornwall before a church service in Charlestown.
The D-Day veteran was 96 when he died on 5 April following a short illness.
Mr Billinge, a former Royal Engineer, was just 18 when he landed on the beach at Normandy in 1944. He was one of only four from his unit to survive.

Image caption,
The funeral procession passed the war memorial in St Austell
Margot Billinge, one of his daughters, said on behalf of the family: "Harry was a very loving husband who always looked after mum.
"He was steadfast in his love for her.
"As a dad, he taught us great values: honesty, kindness, generosity and not to judge."

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA
Image caption,
Military veterans carried Mr Billinge's coffin into the church
Mr Billinge spent more than 60 years collecting for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
He helped raise more than £50,000 for the British Normandy Memorial and would make annual pilgrimages to the cemeteries of northern France.
Appointed an MBE in 2020 for his fundraising work, he dedicated it to the 22,442 service personnel killed on D-Day and during the Battle for Normandy.
In 2019 Mr Billinge said on BBC Breakfast: "I'm no hero, I was lucky, I'm here. All the heroes are dead and I'll never forget them."

Image caption,
Mr Billinge was appointed an MBE for services to charitable fundraising
Ms Billinge said: "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."
The funeral procession travelled through St Austell and past the war memorial cross at Holy Trinity Church with mourners gathered along the route.

Image caption,
Mr Billinge's coffin was taken to St Paul's Church in Charlestown
It then moved to Charlestown where a guard of honour lined the street outside the church and standard bearers were in attendance.

Analysis by BBC News South West of England correspondent Jenny Kumah​

Hundreds of people have turned out for the funeral on this sunny day in Harry Billinge's home town in Cornwall.
He had a special place in people's hearts.
He was admired for his life of service and the incredible fundraising that helped create the British Normandy memorial.
Family, veterans in uniform and friends turned out in force to remember a man who did so much to ensure his fallen comrades would never be forgotten.
The church was full to capacity and the church hall set up with seats for 150 people to watch the service via a live video link.
Speakers were also set up outside the church and people lined the street to listen to the requiem mass service.

The hour-long service started at 11:00 BST, led by The Revd Canon Malcolm Bowers.
Singer and TV presenter Aled Jones sung the hymn Let There Be Peace on Earth at the service.
A eulogy was read by BBC journalist Nicholas Witchell who is a 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."

IMAGE SOURCE,PA MEDIA
Image caption,
Mr Billinge's coffin was taken to the church service in Charlestown
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."
Andy Duff, a friend who used to drive Mr Billinge, said: "He was one of my best mates even though he was a lot older than me.
"There are not many people in life you will miss for a long time, but I will miss him all right."
Clint Osborne was Mr Billinge's barber and was in St Austell when the procession passed through.

Spontaneous applause broke out as Mr Billinge's coffin was carried from the church
He said: "Harry was a very proud man. Every time I saw him he always talked about the men he was on Gold Beach with… I'll miss him."
Mr Billinge 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.

 

[Martyn]

A lovely sunny day down here in Cornwall, beautiful day for a sending off of a true gentleman.

 

[Farma Parma]

watched his interviews on bbc news from the start what a true humble man from a different era to what we know now
if all our grandads had been like him eh.
RIP Harry

 

[Bald Rick]

We do like a good funeral in this country ….. and for once, thoroughly deserved.

He was right …. War is not a game

 

[Farma Parma]

We do like a good funeral in this country ….. and for once, thoroughly deserved.

He was right …. War is not a game

Well said try n tell Putin that tho... all them young lads fallen at his command for what exactally just make his empire bigger? whoopy do

 

[Bald Rick]

Well said try n tell Putin that tho... all them young lads fallen at his command for what exactally just make his empire bigger? whoopy do

Estimated that over 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the 9 weeks of fighting to date.

No figures for Ukrainian defenders or indeed civilians but not going to be much less when added together

 

[No wot]

And there's tv coverage given to all theses Tw$ts going on about being " non binary or pan sexual " and a host of other non phrases , and then there's this great man and all his generation who saw terrible, terrible things happen all around them in WW 2 , came home and got on with life as best they could, asking for very little or nothing, one generation makes you proud and thankful for their sacrifice , the other generation aren't worth the dog shite on the bottom of my boot , RIP Harry.

 

[Bury the Trash]

And there's tv coverage given to all theses Tw$ts going on about being " non binary or pan sexual " and a host of other non phrases , and then there's this great man and all his generation who saw terrible, terrible things happen all around them in WW 2 , came home and got on with life as best they could, asking for very little or nothing, one generation makes you proud and thankful for their sacrifice , the other generation aren't worth the dog shite on the bottom of my boot , RIP Harry.

just by writing that , its clear you haven't a clue as to what sort of person Harry was.

 

[No wot]

just by writing that , its clear you haven't a clue as to what sort of person Harry was.

Ok

 

[bluebell]

With all the woes and worries we have at the moment, do we, and previous generations realise how lucky we are that we wernt born 70 odd years ago? i remember talking to an ex ww2 senior citizan who worked where i was, he went threw the war, was called up, was in a lorry that was blown up outside caen, normandy, his comments were that he felt cheated of his young man hood, by having to go through all that? unlike the kids of today who have it all, gap years travelling the world for one? the previous gentleman saw other countires but in a different light?