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Cenotaph record

English Māori

Cyril Henry Baigent

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W/C Mac Baigent (left) with S/L Bob Rogers, 75(NZ) Squadron RAF, Mepal, Nr. Ely Cambridgeshire 1945

Cyril Henry 'Mac' Baigent

Image may be subject to copyright restrictions. info@75nzsquadron.com

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Cyril Henry AWMM
  • Surname
    Baigent AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    • Mac Baigent AWMM
    • Baige AWMM
  • Service number
    NZ411973 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    16 January 1923 AWMM Ashburton, Canterbury AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
    Soldier/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 Mar 1941 AWMM
    Age 18 AWMM
    Shipping clerk/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Posted to Royal Air Force (RAF) in UK, September 1941.

    Served his first tour of duty (32 operations) with 15 Squadron, RAF, 1942.

    Served a second tour of duty (55 operations) with 115 Squadron, RAF, 1943.

    Took part in the first two 1000-bomber raids:

    1) on Cologne, Germany on 31 May/1 June 1942,

    2) on Essen, Germany on 1/2 June 1942.

    Appointed Squadron Leader, November 1943.

    Promoted to Wing Commander and appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF early in 1945. Baigent was only 22 at the time and was therefore the youngest Squadron Commander in RAF Bomber Command.

    Returned to New Zealand in 1949 with a permanent commission as Squadron Leader and senior Administrative Officer at Whenuapai air base.

    Wing Commander and Commandant, Whenuapai, February 1953.

    Buried in Nelson, New Zealand AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    10 November 1953 AWMM
    Age 30 AWMM
    Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson, New Zealand AWMM New Presbyterian Plot 017 Block 08 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember Cyril Henry Baigent by laying a poppy.

Leave a note

Leave a tribute or memory of Cyril Henry Baigent

Leave a note

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  • In tribute to the CO of 75(NZ)Sqn RAF, and 75 Squadron RNZAF. From the 75 Squadron Association of New Zealand. Glen Turner Secretary 75Sqn Assn NZ www.75squadron-raf-rnzaf.com
    Public - Glen - Researcher - 8 December 2015
    Report

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Cemetery Records. Nelson City Council.
    http://www.nelsoncitycouncil.co.nz/cemeteries-database-2/
    Sources Used
  • Documents
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1942). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 5 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1941 to 30 September, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
    • Thompson, H. (1956). New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force (Vols. 1-3). Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Franks, N. (1991). Forever strong : the story of 75 Squadron RNZAF 1916-1990. Auckland, N.Z.: Random Century. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
04 May 2020ChrisAucklandResearcher
04 July 2016Simon RobertHelsby, United KingdomResearcher
08 December 2015GlenBulls, New ZealandResearcher
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