Hetherington was born on 27 June 1911, and educated at St Neot's School, Eversley and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

[1] Hetherington served in the Second World War becoming commanding officer of the destroyer HMS Windsor in early May 1943 and commanding officer of the destroyer HMS Lookout in March 1944.

[2] He saw action in the Battle of the Ligurian Sea, destroying two German Ships in March 1945.

[1] In retirement he served as President of the Watlington Branch of the Royal British Legion from 1981 to 1989.

[5] Hetherington died in 1992 and was buried at St Mary's Church in Pyrton in Oxfordshire.