Private Andrew Peter Hickling

Below are Stuart Griffith's memories of Andy Hickling. 

"Andy Hickling came to B Company 3 Para in 1990, who were then on a residential tour operating from Palace Barracks in Northern Ireland.

He was a Nottingham lad that came to 4 Platoon to begin with. Andy was a switched on Soldier. I can remember being on top cover with him on QRF duty a few times, he was always calm and professional throughout. After a tour of Woodbourne RUC Station, Andy was transferred over to 5 Platoon. We would often share a few beers off duty in the NAAFI at Palace Barracks.

When we heard of his death, it was such a sad occasion. We all had been dealing with the intense hostilities of West Belfast and that Andy managed to tragically die outside a Kebab shop in a late night scuffle whilst on leave in Nottingham made many of us realise that we were not exactly bullet proof. It was very sad that his life was cut short, because he had a great future ahead of him.

I was part of the burial party along with other members of B. Company 3 Para. I can remember our Sgt Major asking any of us if we would like to pay our last respects to Andy before the coffin was sealed. I didn’t. I wanted to remember him as he was, a great laugh and a great bloke. We buried Andy Hickling in a cemetery in Nottingham. It was a very moving service and afterwards we had a wake and many tears were shed and many beverages consumed.

I felt I wanted to write something about Andy, as there is nothing on the internet has been written about him (it was the days before the world wide web) and I want his kind spirit to be remembered in someway. Andy was a great paratrooper, whose life was cut short tragically."

Stuart Griffiths 2018