Reginald Stanley Hickey

Date of birth: 29th January 1920
Place of birth: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Previous occupation: Junior Clerk
Service: Royal Navy
Rank: Telegraphist
Service Number: J747142
Joined Hood First time: 2nd June 1939
Left Hood First time: 3rd March 1940
Joined Hood Second time: 11th August 1940
Left Hood Second time: 3rd October 1940





Biographical Information: Reginald Stanley Hickey (known as Reg) was born in Portsmouth into a family of six children, and was based in Portsmouth until the end of life.Reg joined the Navy at 17 and trained as Telegraphist. He married Joan Ford in 1944 and they had three children - Janet, John and Lynne.His varied war service included time in Hood, Renown and Formidable. He was present at the Battle of Narvik and also served on the Nile (Special Service), on Russian Convoys and with the Norwegian Navy on MTBs. Postwar, Reg had two very happy married accompanied drafts in Malta and one year accompanied in Ireland. Reg finished his Service Career in HMS Mercury, leaving the Royal Navy as a Chief Petty Officer in 1959.Regs civilian employment included car sales and seven years as a publican, running The Cormorant pub in Portchester, with his wife Joan, until retirement in 1977.He spent many happy years in retirement: he loved gardening, and socialising and enjoyed many holidays in Europe. Reg died in May 1998 and his ashes were committed at sea, south of Southsea Point. Joan lived until 2016.

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