Owen Thomas Baragwanath (1913 - 2003)

Born 12 Oct 1913 in New Zealand

Died 2003 at about age 89 in New Zealand

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Biography

Owen Thomas Baragwanath was born on 12 October 1913 in New Zealand, son of Alexander William Baragwanath and Frances Isabell Pollard.

Owen's birth was registered in New Zealand in 1913.^[1]

Owen's marrIage was registered in New Zealand in 1939^[2]

Owen was mentioned in the obituary of his another person John Fraser Baragwanath on 30 October 1950 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.^[3][4][5][6]

Owen was mentioned in the obituary of his another person on 31 October 1950 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.^[7]

Owen was mentioned in the obituary of his another person John Fraser Baragwanath on 31 October 1950 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.^[8]

Owen was mentioned in the obituary of his father Alexander William Baragwanath on 22 March 1952 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.^[9]

Owen was mentioned in the obituary of his father Alexander William Baragwanath on 24 March 1952 in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.^[10]

Owen was awarded an OBE in the 1971 New Year Honours, he Right Reverend Owen Thomas Baragwanath ED – of Auckland. For valuable services to the community as a minister of religion.^[11]

Owen died on 31 December 2002 and was buried in Meadowbank, Auckland, New Zealand.^[12]

Extract of Obituary from the NZ Herald 2003

By ARNOLD PICKMERE

Presbyterian churchman. Died aged 89.

The Very Rev Owen Thomas Baragwanath, who in 1999 celebrated the 60th anniversary of his induction as a minister, was the leading Auckland Presbyterian churchman of his day, in war and peace.

He touched the lives of thousands with a wise, human and quietly inspirational approach.

In fact his work in the community was so wide-ranging that few outside his family probably realised its breadth.

He was nationally known in his highest office as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand in 1969-70, and was made an OBE. But a pivotal feature of his life was undoubtedly his 25 years as minister of St David's Church in Khyber Pass, ministering to the inner city.

Not long before he retired as its minister in 1978, he was christening a grandchild. Looking down on the baby, he realised the child was a member of the sixth generation of his family to attend St David's.

Baragwanath's great-grandfather, Thomas McKenzie Fraser, was the first ordained minister of the church.

The second son of three sons of Alexander and Florence Baragwanath (nee Pollard), Owen was raised in a musical home in an atmosphere of quick wit and gentle humour. He was educated at Auckland Grammar School and at the Universities of Auckland, Otago and Edinburgh. He excelled at rugby, playing it at each of his universities and for South Otago, and at field sports and water polo.

During the Depression he worked as a lumper (labourer loading and unloading cargoes) with the John Burns company to pay for his study and to help at home. It also contributed to his understanding of others' needs.

An intended doctoral course in Scotland and his term as an associate at St Giles Cathedral were cut short by World War II. He returned to marry Eileen Richards of Dunedin and served in the Balclutha parish before leaving for the Pacific with the 29th Battalion.

He took part in the 1943 Treasury Islands campaign in the Solomons, the first opposed landing by New Zealanders since Gallipoli. Its objective was to capture the islands from the Japanese, partly so a radar station could be established to assist in the assault on nearby Bougainville. For gallantry under fire, including service as a stretcher bearer, he was mentioned in dispatches.

Throughout the campaign and after the war, when he served as Senior Presbyterian Chaplain to the 3rd NZ Division and later Chaplain Commandant to the New Zealand Military Forces, he provided leadership and comfort to serving men and women.

A practical interest in the men and their well-being was helped by his participation in sport, his bass voice and ukulele, a sense of humour and an eye for others' concerns.

He officiated at the dedication of the Military Museum at Waiouru and valued his appointment succeeding Sir Harold Barrowclough and General McKinnon as patron of the 3rd Division.

After the war he was called first to Knox Dunedin as associate to David Herron, then to a satisfying period at Andersons Bay in the same city where, with his wife, he developed the largest youth group in the Southern Hemisphere.

At St David's in Auckland from 1953, his imposing physical presence, qualities as a preacher and his energy filled three services each Sunday. It was a congregation drawn from across the city, including intellectual, business, trade union and civic leaders, as well as nurses, students and many others. And successive Governors-General, among whom Sir Bernard and Lady Fergusson became particularly close friends.

He regularly visited Mt Eden Prison, various city hospitals and every home in his congregation.^[13]

Owen's death was registered in New Zealand in 2003.^[14]

RESEACH NOTES

FamilySearch Person: GV77-HJJ

Sources

1. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz). Birth Registration 1913/4391 Baragwanath Owen Thomas Frances Isabel Alexander William
2. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz). Marriage Registration 1939/17020 Eileen Georgia Richards Owen Thomas Baragwanath
3. ↑ Obituary of another person John Fraser Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 445
   FamilySearch Record: QPTQ-J4HP (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1FFB
   Name: Owen; Relationship To Head: Brother; Record Nbr: 111; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
4. ↑ Obituary of another person John Fraser Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 446
   FamilySearch Record: QPB1-ZK8Q (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1FFM
   Name: Owen; Relationship To Head: Brother; Vis Status: VISIBLE; Record Nbr: 113; System Of Record: SLS.
5. ↑ Obituary of another person John Fraser Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 443
   FamilySearch Record: QPTM-GC5S (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1FKZ
   Name: Owen; Relationship To Head: Brother; Record Nbr: 436; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
6. ↑ Obituary of another person John Fraser Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 444
   FamilySearch Record: QPRH-TRKR (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1FRT
   Name: Owen; Relationship To Head: Brother; Record Nbr: 316; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
7. ↑ Obituary of another person: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 446
   FamilySearch Record: QPB1-ZKJ9 (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1FFM
   Name: Owen; Relationship To Head: Brother; Record Nbr: 291; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
8. ↑ Obituary of another person John Fraser Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 445
   FamilySearch Record: QPTQ-J4XT (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1FFB
   Name: Owen; Relationship To Head: Brother; Record Nbr: 294; Vis Status: VISIBLE; System Of Record: SLS.
9. ↑ Obituary of father Alexander William Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 747
   FamilySearch Record: QPR7-4QKN (accessed 13 March 2024)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1NXT
   Name: Owen Baragwanath; Relationship To Head: Son; Vis Status: VISIBLE; Record Nbr: 157; System Of Record: SLS.
10. ↑ Obituary of father Alexander William Baragwanath: "New Zealand, Obituaries, 1844-1963", database with images
    citing Digital film/folder number: 007832338; FHL microfilm: 007832338; Image number: 747
    FamilySearch Record: QPR7-4QGJ (accessed 13 March 2024)
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-CS3Z-1NXT
    Name: Owen Baragwanath; Relationship To Head: Son; Vis Status: VISIBLE; Record Nbr: 248; System Of Record: SLS.
11. ↑ Wikipedia entry: Wikipedia contributors, "1971 New Year Honours (New Zealand)", database
    Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (accessed 13 March 2024)
12. ↑ Burial: "Find A Grave Index", database
    citing record ID 221249257, Find a Grave
    FamilySearch Record: 6ZWM-19JN (accessed 13 March 2024)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #221249257
    Owen Thomas Baragwanath burial (died on 31 Dec 2002) in Meadowbank, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand. Born in 1913.
13. ↑ https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/iobituaryi-owen-baragwanath/SPZYZW5HEBLTGCISZZF7QXIX3A/
14. ↑ "Births, Deaths & Marriages Online", [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz). Death Registration 2003/583 Baragwanath Owen Thomas 12 October 1913