The Martlet

The Christ Church Cathedral was full on Monday, Jan. 4, as former UVic student Lieut. Andrew Richard Nuttall, 30, was put to rest.

Nuttall, a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based out of Edmonton, was killed by a roadside explosive on Dec. 23 while on foot patrol with his platoon in the Panjwai District of Afghanistan.

One after another speakers went to the podium, describing Nuttall as an adventuresome, funny, kind-hearted man, and spoke of his smile as if it could light up the world.

“Lieut. Nuttall would always help you out, expecting nothing in return” said Lieut. Dylan Dewar, a fellow soldier who was stationed with Nuttall in Afghanistan. “I’m not religious, but when I heard that he was wounded, I prayed that it was some kind of mistake.”

Speakers described Nuttall as a generous person who loved the outdoors and surfing, snowboarding and camping. He was born in Prince Rupert, but lived in several different cities during his childhood.

Nutall came to call Victoria home when he came to the city for school. He enrolled in UVic’s engineering department in 1997. His love for music led him to volunteer at campus radio station CFUV during his time at the university.

Speakers said Nuttall developed a tightknit circle of friends at UVic, who he was close to until his death.

“Lots of us didn’t understand his choice to join, but it would have been selfish of us to try to make him do any different,” said Craig Banks, one of Nuttall’s close friends from UVic. “It’s what he loved.”

Nuttall, who went by the nickname “Nutts,” was known for his sense of humour both at home and with his comrades in Afghanistan. Following his stay at UVic, he worked in the computer industry.

Prior to joining the Canadian Forces, Nuttall became a member of Crossfit Vancouver, making several friends who were active in the military.

After listening to stories describing their experiences in the military, he eventually made the decision to enlist.

“He truly cared for the Afghan people,” said Lieut. Mike Yung, another one of Nuttall’s fellow soldiers who spoke at the funeral.

The funeral ended with a speech from Reverend Blyth Hughes, and an uproar of applause. Hughes asked the audience to continue Nuttall’s work, and try and make a difference in the world.

Nuttall’s coffin was put onto the military carriage to the send off of Reveille, ringing bells, then finally silence.

Nuttall is the 134th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the military campaign began in early 2002.

Since his death, another four Canadian soldiers and a Calgary Herald journalist have died in Afghanistan, in another incident involving a roadside bomb.