A D-DAY veteran who was one of the first soldiers to storm the Gold Beach has dedicated his MBE to his 22,442 comrades who died at Normandy.
Former Royal Engineer Horace “Harry” Billinge, 94, was given his MBE from the Queen for raising more than £50,000 for veterans.
Harry, who now walks with a stick, was just 18 when he stormed the beaches in German-occupied Normandy during the landings on June 6, 1944.
The horrors he witnessed first hand stayed with him and inspired Harry to raise money to commemorate those who died in World War Two.
Harry, from Cornwall, was transported to Buckingham Palace in a Bentley to collect the honour from the Queen today at an investiture ceremony.
He said wanted his MBE dedicated to his 22,442 comrades killed on D-Day and during the Battle for Normandy.
Harry said the men who died “inspired him” to raise money in their memory.
When describing the scenes that unfolded at the Gold Beach he said: “It was hell on earth. Murder. The sea was red with blood, human blood.
While fighting back tears, he added:”Some men were baptised in their own blood. It was a terrible, terrible time. And what for? Not much.”
“I have been unable to forget D-Day. I could never forget.”
Harry already holds France’s highest award, the Legion d’Honneur.
He has collected donations for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for 64 years as well as raising funds for the British Normandy Memorial.
Harry was also chairman of the Cornwall branch of the Normandy Veterans’ Association.
Speaking after the ceremony, he said said it was “wonderful” to meet the Queen and added: “She said ‘I hear you was on D-Day’, and I said ‘I was’.
“She was very, very kind. There are no words to describe it.”
Unlike in previous ceremonies, the Queen wore long white gloves as she handed out the honours.
Buckingham Palace declined to confirm whether the 93-year-old monarch was taking the precaution because of the coronavirus outbreak.
A royal source said the Queen would be following any advice from the government.
