Mr Andy Andrews

THE death has taken place of Killyleagh World War Two veteran Mr Andrew (Andy) Andrews.

Mr Andrews — who celebrated his 93rd birthday three weeks ago — passed away peacefully at Glasswater Lodge Care Home outside Crossgar after a long illness. His funeral service was held in Lissara Presbyterian Church, Crossgar, on Christmas Eve.

The Royal Navy veteran, who was aboard HMS Pink off the Nazi-occupied Normandy coast  during the D-Day landings in June 1944, painted a chilling and vivid picture of the unimaginable horrors of war during an interview with the Down Recorder in June, 2014.

With tears welling in his eyes, he recalled bodies floating in the blood-stained water and hundreds of soldiers within his immediate view being shot dead by German snipers before they had even made landfall. Mr Andrews described the sight he witnessed in which many of his friends and comrades were gunned down as “truly horrific.”

As president of the Killyleagh and Killinchy Royal British Legion branch, Mr Andrews was a familiar figure at the annual Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremony at Killyleagh Castle. He laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal Navy accompanied by his great nephew, Terry.

Born in Killyleagh on December 9, 1923, Mr Andrews was one of 16 children and lived in Shore Street. His father, Horatio Nelson Andrews, was a gardener by profession before he became a postman, while his mother, Beatrice, was originally from Dartmoor in England and worked as a flax spinner in Killyleagh Mill.

Educated at Killyleagh Elementary School in Irish Street, Andy enjoyed algebra and his prowess in solving problems allowed him to go outside to participate in sports while his friends remained in the classroom to finish their sums.

He also attended Killyleagh technical school where he learned to knit and cook. He and his brother Herbie also enjoyed boxing and on occasion would face each other in the ring. A keen fitness fanatic in his youth, Andy would often run from Killyleagh to Lisbane and when he wanted to relax he would go fishing.

He was a familiar figure swimming around boats on Strangford Lough and was also commended for saving a friend from drowning at the Clea Lakes near Shrigley after he became trapped in weeds.

Andy collected pocket money for delivering rabbits to people which had been caught by his brother and aged 14 he secured a job in Killyleagh Mill and was paid the handsome sum of 26 shillings a fortnight for carrying heavy crates containing bobbins of yarn. He worked alongside his mother at the mill and handed over his wages to her when he was paid. But he did get some money back to attend dances at the Orange Hall in the town.

Andy moved to McMillan’s in Crossgar, where he earned five shillings a week. In 1942, aged 18, he volunteered to go to war and signed up for four years’ service with the Royal Navy. He was shipped to Devenport in England where he trained on HMS Raleigh.

Andy initially trained as a torpedo launcher and passed his exam, before concentrating his efforts on firing anti-submarine depth charges. During the war, his experience during the Normandy landings left an indelible mark.

During his time aboard the Duke of York battleship, he met King George and Queen Elizabeth. He was also in Tokyo when the Japanese signed surrender papers marking the end of World War Two.

Andy loved the Navy and while once ashore in Newfoundland, he met legendary actor Victor Mature.

After the war, the veteran held a number of jobs, including building stone walls at the ancient Inch Abbey and Struell Wells sites in Downpatrick. During a digging job at Whiterock near Killinchy, he discovered a number of old tunnels that were thought to have been excavated hundreds of years earlier.

Mr Andrews, who lived at the New Line near Killinchy before he moved to the Glasswater Lodge Care Home, is survived by his sister, Lilly Finlay. He was best friend and companion for 61 years to his partner, Peggy, who sadly passed away in 2014. Mr Andrews was a father, grandfather and great grandfather.

His funeral service on Christmas Eve was conducted by the Rev Ian Abraham and interment was in Lissara Presbyterian churchyard where his coffin was carried to its final resting place by members of the Killyleagh and Killinchy Royal British Legion branch.