Able Seaman Dermot Michael Power (P/JX 200120) served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Born on 26th July 1916, he was the son of the late William Power and Mary Josephine Power (née Maher) of Topsail Road, St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada.
During the Second World War, Power departed from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada on the vessel Newfoundland. He arrived in Liverpool, Lancashire, England on 3rd June 1940 and joined the Royal Navy. Before the outbreak of the Second World War, his occupation had been a farmer.
Able Seaman Power died at Stranmillis Military Hospital, Belfast on 2nd November 1941 aged 25 years old. His cause of death is given as “abscess on lung”. At the time of his death, he served at the land base H.M.S. Victory I in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.
Power also served on H.M.S. Cairo (D 87). Cairo was a Carlisle-Class Light Cruiser launched on 19th November 1918 by Cammell Laird Shipyard, Birkenhead, England. The Royal Navy converted the ship to an anti-aircraft cruiser at Chatham Dockyard between 1938-1939. Work completed on H.M.S. Cairo in May 1939.
Imperial War Museum Photo: FL 5349 (Part of the Ministry of Defence Foxhill Collection of Ship Photographs). HMS Cairo underway. The anti-aircraft cruiser saw use throughout 1939-1949 as a convoy escort ensuring safe passage for troops and goods through dangerous waters. Copyright Royal Navy Official Photographer.
On H.M.S. Cairo
On 23rd May 1941, H.M.S. Cairo was one of many ships in action during the Royal Navy’s pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck. Cairo was one of the Cruisers along with H.M.S. Exeter, and destroyers H.M.S. Cossack, H.M.S. Maori, H.M.S. Zulu, H.M.C.S. Ottawa, H.M.C.S. Restigouche, and H.M.S. Eridge escorting convoy WS 8B. This convoy consisted of 5 troopships travelling from the Clyde, Scotland to the Middle East. Throughout 1941, H.M.S. Cairo would escort many convoys through dangerous waters.
Dermot Michael Power’s grave is in Glenalina Extension, Section D, Grave 12 of Belfast City Cemetery, Belfast. A funeral service took place on 5th November 1941 and his headstone bears the inscription:
Gone is the one we loved so dear. Silent is the voice we loved to hear.