A REAL GENTLEMAN
BY
STUART MATHEWSON
Roger Hiscock was real gentleman and quite approachable. He was a good boss and looked after us. He was always getting injured on jumps or whenever we went on exercise, and I remember he made it into the Pegasus once as he managed a jump where he DIDN'T injure himself. I remember him well as my platoon commander in Germany on Ex Spearpoint in 1980.
I remember the funeral. The church in Ellon was full and I was first in the right-hand file of pall bearers as we marched into the church. Rodger's coffin draped in the Union Jack with his Red Beret on top, was already in the church and we marched up and took our place at the coffin. My file left turned as the other file turned right and faced inwards. We lifted the coffin, and placed it on our shoulders, then slow marched out of the church and down the steps into the graveyard. We marched to his grave and after a sermon by the minister, we lowered the coffin in. We marched off and formed up nearby. I could see that many passersby had stopped, as had many cars, and buses. The road outside the church came to a complete standstill. The firing party fired some volleys, one of 15 Para's pipers played, and a bugler played.
Rodger's wife walked up to the grave as she held their 8 year old daughter's hand in one hand and the hand of their 5 year old son in the other. They paid their tearful respects, and walked away. Many others who served with him marched up, and I remember 6 Platoon's PSI Sgt Jim Hamilton march up and give a smart salute over the grave.
I remember the respectful silence of the public who watched from the main road nearby. Several weeks later I went back to the churchyard and paid my own respects at Rodgers grave.
Stuart Mathewson
15 PARA (SV)
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