Ordinary Seaman Andrew Cecil Dick (3228) served in the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War Two. Born on 31st March 1917, he was the son of James Dick and Beatrice Ellen Dick (née Leitch) of Bellaught, Strabane, Co. Tyrone.
Family and friends knew the seaman as Cecil. He died on 29th March 1942 aged 24 while serving on board HMS Trinidad. At the time, HMS Trinidad was rounding up 6 scattered vessels of Convoy PQ-13 bound for Murmansk. The Royal Naval Escort entered combat with Kriegsmarine Narvik-class Destroyers, damaging Destroyer Z26.
Imperial War Museum Photo: A 7683 (Part of the Admiralty Official Collection). The British Fiji-class cruiser HMS Trinidad stationary at Hvalfjord, Iceland. Photo taken by Lieutenant CH Parnall - Official Royal Naval Photographer.
According to ‘Convoy’ by Paul Kemp, HMS Trinidad took after a hit from its own torpedo. The British vessel launched a torpedo attack but a faulty gyro mechanism caused the weapon to fire in a circular arc. It returned in the icy waters and struck HMS Trinidad killing 32 crew members.
Andrew Cecil Dick has no known grave. His name is on Panel 2 of the New Zealand Naval Memorial, Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand.