(1892-)
Occupation: Merchant seaman
Rank: Sub Lieutenant
ServiceNumber: n/n
Force: Royal Navy Air Service
FAMILY
Reginald Baigent was born in Nelson 31 July 1892 only son of Albert Baigent, and grandson of Mr Henry Baigent
PRE-WAR
Reg attended the Tasman Street School then the Central Nelson School 29 July 1901 to 14 November 1902, then after a period in Wellington he attended Nelson College from 1906.
1915
COLONIST 12 August 1915
“Mr Reginald Baigent ... is spending a few days in Nelson prior to departing for England, where he is joining the Royal Flying Corps as a pilot, having lately resigned his commission as an officer in the service of the Union Steamship Company for this purpose. Mr Baigent is an old Nelson College boy, and in November, 1908, joined the full-rigged ship Dartford as a cadet. In November, 1912, he completed his apprenticeship and passed his examination for second mate, being then appointed an officer in the service. In October, 1914, he passed for first mate, and he has been in various ships of the company up to the time of resigning…”
1916
By early 1916 Reg was a Flt Sub-Lt in the RNAS. His Pilot’s Certificate was issued in April 1916. He was injured in a flying accident later that year [November?]. He transferred to the Royal Navy and served on North Sea patrol boats before serving on three different submarines during the remainder of the war.
Post War
After the war Reg married Lizzie (Elizabeth) Guthrie Peters in Dunedin 29 December 1918. He continued to work in shipping in New Zealand then moved to Sydney where he worked for the Sydney - China Passenger Line. He later became a marine surveyor in Sydney. Reg died in 1954.