Lawrence Fabian Joseph Power was born in Mulgrave, Guysborough County, on January 16, 1916, the son of Rose (O’Neill) and William Patrick Power. Fabian had Irish roots on both sides of his family. His mother’s patrilineal O’Neill ancestors traced their roots to Henry O’Neill, born at Lisnafudy—now known as Lisnafeedy—Armagh, Ireland. Henry and his Irish wife, Rosanna Donnelly, immigrated to Nova Scotia at an unknown date. The couple settled in the Strait of Canso area, where they raised a family of 11 children—five boys and six girls—all of whom are believed to have been born in Nova Scotia.
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| Flight Sergeant Fabian Power |
Henry and Rosanna’s youngest son, Joseph, was born at Auld’s Cove on August 17, 1852, and married Elizabeth Jane O’Neill, daughter of Samuel Joseph and Mary (Fraser) O’Neill, at St. Lawrence Church, Mulgrave, on January 30, 1873. Samuel Joseph’s grandfather, William O’Neill, was born in Wexford, Ireland, around 1805 and had immigrated to Nova Scotia at an unknown date.
In 1827, William obtained a 100-acre grant at Morristown, Antigonish County. He married Elizabeth Mahoney, an Antigonish County native, and spent at least a decade at Morristown before relocating to Grosvenor, Guysborough County, before 1841. One of William and Elizabeth’s sons, Samuel C., was born at Morristown around 1831 and married Mary Fraser. Samuel and Mary’s oldest child, Elizabeth Jane, was born in Grosvenor on May 29, 1852, and married Joseph, son of Henry and Rosanna O’Neill, thus connecting two separate O’Neill lineages. The first of Joseph and Elizabeth’s 13 children—a daughter, Rose, Fabian’s mother—was born at Cape Porcupine on December 18, 1873.
On his father William Patrick’s side, Fabian was a descendant of David B. Power, born in County Waterford, Ireland, around 1795. David immigrated to Nova Scotia at an unknown date and married Isabella Anderson, a native of Morristown, Antigonish County, in a ceremony held at Arisaig around 1820. The couple followed Isabella’s brother, James Anderson, and her nephew, Donald Daniel Anderson, to Havre Boucher, where the Anderson clan established mercantile, hotel and shipping businesses over the subsequent years.
David Power passed away in Mulgrave on June 21, 1861, while Isabella died in the same community on July 6, 1874. The couple’s second son, William, was born in Havre Boucher on March 15, 1827, and married Mary Sarah Higlan—also spelled “Highland” and “Hyland”—daughter of Bridget (Farrell) and Pierce “Pierre” Highland, at St. Paul’s Church, Havre Boucher, around 1851.
Land records indicate that William and Mary purchased a house and five acres of land at Havre Boucher shortly after their marriage. On April 8, 1862, the couple acquired a second parcel of land at Melford—later known as Mulgrave—from a Thomas and Mary Power. Oral family history claims that Thomas and William were related, but the exact nature of the connection is unknown.
The 1871 Canadian census lists William and Mary, both 44 years of age and natives of Nova Scotia, living in the Melford district of Guysborough County, where William worked as a “fisherman.” At that time, the Power home included eight children—John J., age 17, fisherman; Mary Ann, age 15; Bridget, age 13; William Patrick, age 12; Lawrence B., age nine; Michael J., age seven; Sarah, age four; and Walter, age one.
A decade later, the five youngest children still resided in the Power family’s North Melford home. By 1891, William Sr.’s occupation was listed as “Hotel and Store Keeper.” Still part of the household were sons William Patrick, age 30, and Michael, age 23, both “fishermen” by occupation, and their younger sister Sarah, age 21.
On January 15, 1896, William Patrick Power married Rose O’Neill in a ceremony held at St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Mulgrave. At the time of the 1901 Canadian census, two children—a daughter Mary Elizabeth “Blanche,” age three (DOB September 15, 1897), and a son William Joseph, age one (DOB September 12, 1899)—had joined the family.
Over the ensuing decade, another six children arrived—Francis John “Frank” (DOB January 1902); Samuel Sylvester (DOB October 1903); Bernard Ambrose (DOB January 1905); Margaret Loretta (DOB December 1907); Catherine Clotilda (DOB October 1909); and John O’Neil (DOB April 1911). Also in the home at the time of the 1911 Canadian census was William Patrick’s mother Mary, age 87. His father, William Sr., had passed away at Mulgrave on March 23, 1903.
Three more sons joined the Power household after 1911—Michael William (June 15, 1914); Lawrence Fabian Joseph (January 16, 1916); and Charles Patrick “Pat” (c. 1919). A fourth son, Donald, died in childhood prior to 1921. During these years, William Patrick worked as a carpenter with Canadian National Railways, one of Mulgrave’s main employers. The family also accommodated boarders. On April 13, 1916, William Patrick’s mother Mary passed away at Mulgrave and was laid to rest alongside her husband in St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Fabian attended Loggie St. School from September 1921 to June 1929. He then moved on to Mulgrave High School, where he completed a year’s studies before leaving in December 1930, midway through his Grade 10 year. It was a difficult time to enter the work world, as the impact of the Great Depression resulted in few employment opportunities. Fabian worked at odd jobs in the community and helped out at home.
Finally, in October 1937, Fabian found work as a miner at the Chester Basin Facey Gold Mine. The following spring, he relocated to a mining operation at Seal Harbour. In September 1938, he was hired as a “rough carpenter” by the “Work Services” branch of the Royal Canadian Engineers. The unit was busy constructing and repairing defensive structures along the Strait of Canso, in anticipation of the outbreak of war in Europe.
The position allowed Fabian to return to the Mulgrave area, where he once again resided with his parents. Following the outbreak of war in Europe in September 1939, he began to contemplate enlistment. Finally, in early March 1940, Fabian submitted an application to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) at Halifax, NS. After a wait of almost eight months, he attested for service with the RCAF on October 26, 1940.
Fabian was initially recommended for “Standard General Duties” and received the rank of Aircraftman Class 2. One month after enlistment, he was assigned to No. 5 Bomber & Gunnery School, Charlottetown, for guard duty. On January 26, 1941, Fabian was promoted to Aircraftman Class 1. In late March, he was attached to No. 17 Elementary Flight Training School, Stanley, NS, for duty. While serving there, Fabian was promoted to Leading Aircraftman (LAC) on April 26, 1941.
On June 4, 1941, Fabian was transferred to No. 2 Air Navigation School, Pennfield Ridge, NB. Three months later, he was promoted to the rank of Acting Corporal with pay. It appears that while serving at these various locations, Fabian was also engaged in training. On November 23, 1941, he qualified as Security Guard Class C.
Throughout the winter of 1942 - 43, Fabian remained on duty at the Pennfield Ridge facility. In the spring of 1942, the trajectory of his military service took a different direction. On May 27, 1942, Fabian was assigned to a Flying Instructor’s Course at No. 34 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Pennfield Ridge. During his time there, he completed more than 90 hours of solo and almost 80 hours of dual flight training aboard Harvard and Moth aircraft.
While instructors commented that he “lacks confidence,” they were certain that “experience should overcome this…. This NCO [non-commissioned officer] will make a steady and conscientious instructor. He has a thorough knowledge of sequence and only needs experience to polish his technique.”
Fabian remained in New Brunswick until October 26, 1942, at which time he was posted to No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School, Mont Joli, QC. While his service record provides no details, it appears that he was no longer a candidate for flying instructor. Two weeks later, he re-mustered as an “Air Gunner Standard.” The change meant that Fabian now commenced training for active combat duty at Mont Joli.
Over the next three months, Fabian logged 12 hours of flying time as an Air Gunner while completing ground training courses. He placed 21st in a class of 73 cadets, achieving an average of 71.4 % in his course work. On February 5, 1943, Fabian received his Air Gunner’s Badge and was promoted to the rank of Temporary Sergeant. Instructors noted that he was a “good student, co-operative, hard worker, popular, neat in appearance.”
After a two-week embarkation leave, Fabian reported to 1Y Depot, Halifax, on February 20, 1943. Two weeks later, he was formally assigned to the Royal Air Force (RAF) Training Pool and departed for overseas on March 9. Upon arriving in the United Kingdom eight days later, he reported to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre, Bournemouth.
On April 13, 1943, Fabian was assigned to No. 22 Operational Training Unit (OTU), Wellesbourne Mountford. OTUs provided airmen with the first opportunity to train aboard the aircraft on which they would fly combat missions. Formed in April 1941, No. 22 OTU trained night bomber crews aboard two-engine Vickers Wellington aircraft.
After completing the OTU’s program, Fabian proceeded to No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit (HCU) on June 17, 1943. HCUs were designed to transition air crew from two-engine to four-engine aircraft. Based at RAF Topcliffe, No. 1659 HCU provided training experience aboard four-engine Lancaster bombers. Fabian spent three weeks with the unit, after which he was assigned to active duty with No. 419 Squadron on July 10, 1943.
Established at Mildenhall, UK, in mid-December 1941, Fabian’s new unit was known as the “Moose” Squadron, in honour of its first Wing Commander, John “Moose” Fulton. The squadron initially flew two-engine Wellington aircraft, but began the transition to four-engine Halifax bombers in November 1942.
At the time Fabian and his crew mates reported for duty on July 15, 1943, the squadron was “in stand down” for a period of training. The novice airmen completed their maiden mission on the night of July 27/28 when their Halifax II bomber participated in a 14-aircraft raid on Hamburg, Germany. Fabian occupied the second gunner’s position in the aircraft. All planes returned safely to base, although “several sustained damage by flak.”
Two nights later, the crew participated in a second raid on Hamburg. On this occasion, the bomber’s pilot, Flight Sergeant J. M. Batterton, reported “one blinding flash seen immediately after bombing which lit up the whole surroundings.” Engine trouble forced one aircraft to return to base. The remaining 15 bombers successfully completed the mission without incident.
On the night of August 2/3, 15 aircraft once again departed for Hamburg, On this mission, poor weather conditions forced 11 crews to return to base before reaching the target. Three aircraft dropped their bombs on the German city, while one plane failed to return. Three days after his fourth operational mission—August 5, 1943—Fabian was officially promoted to the rank of Temporary Flight Sergeant.
Two weeks passed before Fabian’s crew returned to action. On the night of August 17/18, a fleet of 596 RAF bombers targeted Peenmunde, Germany, located on the Baltic coast. The mission was an attempt to destroy a secret location where Nazi scientists were developing “state of the art” rocket engines. A total of 17 aircraft from 419 Squadron participated in the massive raid.
The Halifax II bomber on which Fabian was second gunner departed from 419 Squadron’s base at 9:25 pm August 17. Also aboard the aircraft were pilot J. M. Batterton, navigator G. F. Parker, bomb aimer O. Jerome, wireless operator/air gunner D. A. Lloyd, flight engineer K. Dixon, and rear gunner Harold Urban Morris.
Fabian’s aircraft was one of three 419 Squadron bombers that failed to return following the mission. According to the unit’s operational records, “[its] last position… was when it was given a second class fix from Hull at 04.26 18/8/41 [at] position 53 [degrees] 57’ N 03 [degrees] 02’ E. Nothing further has been heard from it since that time.”
A later report indicated that the bomber was forced to ditch in the North Sea approximately 24 miles off the coast of Happisburgh, Norfolk, UK. Its circumstances at the time remain a mystery, as no trace of the seven crew members was ever found. On August 18, 1943, RCAF officials notified Rose Power by telegram that her son Fabian was officially “missing.”
Several months passed before the Power family received an update. On June 23, 1944, a second telegram informed Rose that Flight Sergeant Fabian Power was “now ‘presumed dead’ 18-Aug-43 for official purposes.” As none of the crew’s remains were recovered, their names were inscribed on the Air Forces Memorial later erected at Runnymede, UK, in memory of more than 20,000 British and Commonwealth air crew lost during the Second World War, all of whom have no known graves.
Fabian’s loss was the third tragedy to impact the Power family in less than a year. On November 27, 1942, Fabian’s father William Patrick died from injuries received when he was struck by a truck on Main St., Mulgrave, during a snow storm. He was 84 years old at the time of his death. Fabian’s older brother, Michael William, had enlisted for service with the merchant marine and was completing a training program at the Engineer Instructional School, Prescott, ON, when he was killed in a boiler explosion on June 4, 1943, only two and a half months prior to Fabian’s fatal fifth mission. Two other Power boys, John O’Neil and Samuel Sylvester, served during the Second World War and safely returned home.
Portrait of Fabian Power courtesy of his niece, Martina (MacDonald) Hatchette, Antigonish, NS. Special thanks to Dan Fougere, Havre Boucher, NS, who contributed valuable information on Fabian's Power ancestry.
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