BAIRD, George Mackie
| Service Number: | Chaplain |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 August 1918 |
| Last Rank: | Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) |
| Last Unit: | Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
| Born: | Scarsdale, Victoria, 10 August 1872 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | The Geelong College, Ormond College - Melbourne University |
| Occupation: | Presbyterian Minister of Religion |
| Died: | Natural causes, Upper Hawthorn, Victoria, 25 April 1939, aged 66 years |
| Cemetery: |
Boroondara (Kew) General Cemetery, Victoria Meth D, Grave 0321 also interred in the same grave Margaret Hamilton BAIRD (age 28) - 22nd November 1937 and Ethel Caroline BAIRD (age 74) - 7th October 1948. |
| Memorials: | Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Aug 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 Aug 1918: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Australian Army Chaplains' Department, Embarked on HMAT 'A37' Barambah from Melbourne on 31st August 1918, disembarking London, England on 14th November 1918. | |
| 26 Nov 1918: |
Transferred
AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Australian Army Chaplains' Department, |
|
| 27 Oct 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department, Embarked on HMAT Orontes from England on 27th October 1919, disembarking Melbourne | |
| 23 Dec 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Captain (Chaplain 4th Class) , Chaplain, Australian Army Chaplains' Department |
OBITUARY
Rev. G. Mackie Baird
The death occurred at his home, 625 Burke-road, Upper Hawthorn, Victoria, on Tuesday, of Rev. George Mackle Baird, who from 1921 to 1927 was rector of St. Andrew's Church, Launceston. While in that position Mr. Baird was convener of the Foreign Missions in the Presbyterian Church. Resigning from the position, Mr. Baird went to the mainland, and after some time accepted a call to new work at Upper Hawthorn. Mr. Baird had a serious breakdown a few years ago. He leaves a wife, daughter, Beatrice, and son, Charles, all of whom live at Upper Hawthorn.
Examiner Saturday 29 April 1939 page 6
Submitted 12 October 2015 by Faithe Jones
Death of Rev. G. M. Baird.
The Rev, George Mackie Balrd, who succeeded the Rev, R, A. Caldwell as minister df St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Mount Garnbier, and who occupied the pulpit from September, 1909, until 1913, when he resigned, died after taking part in the Anzac March in Melbourne.
Mr. Baird wias a padre with the Australian troops during the Great War. At the time of his death he was minister in charge of South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church.
Nine clergymen, led by the Moderator of the Presbyterian State Assembly (the Rev. Karl Forster), took part in the services at the house, church, and cemetery.
Members of the local sub-branch of this Returned Soldiers' League formed a guard of honour from the cemetery gates to the graveside, A commemoration service was conducted by the President (Mr. A. W. Hinds).
Border Watch Tuesday 09 May 1939 page 3
Submitted 12 October 2015 by Faithe Jones
IN MEMORY OF REV.G. M. BAIRD
IN MEMORY OF REV.G. M. BAIRD
Service in St. Andrew's Church
When the father of the late Rev. Hugh Burns was dying, he requested that his colleague should preach from this text, "I am the resurrection and the life." This was done. Rev. J.Lr, Hurse gave an address fitting to the occasion on this text, when he conducted a memorial service to the late Rev. George Mackie Baird in St. Andrew's Church yesterday. Mr. Hurse said that a tribute of respect and affection should be paid to the memory of one who had endeared himself to many who worshipped in St. Andrew's. God was merciful, and the call had come suddenly. Mr. Baird would not have wished it otherwise; he had been called to a higher sphere of labour while still in harness.Mr. Baird was a son of the manse. One of the greatest compliments that could be paid to a minister and his congregation was for the cons to following the father's footsteps. Two of the Baird boys had become ministers in the church to which their father had belonged. The preacher said that although Mr.Baird had never claimed to possess great gifts of oratory, yet the fine sincerity of the man, and the heart of love that had beaten behind his message had been of far greater worth than any flashy gifts of rhetoric, or the silver tongue of a wordy orator. His words had been fraught with inspiration. healing, and comfort. Mr. Baird had possessed a genius for organisation, and the work which had been done by him at Upper Hawthorn would stand the test of time. His cheery smile and genial personality had been calculated to dispel the clouds of despondency, and to make the heart of the sad rejoice. It had been said of a character in a certain book that as he went through the world, he lit warm fires in many cold rooms. Mr. Hurse said that he knew of no better summing up of the character of the man whose passing they so deeply lamented. Such men should be ever remembered by what they had done, and by their work. He had entered into the higher communion of saints, and into, the higher service of the Lord he had loved so well. and it was for. them to look to that day of glad reunion when they would meet again. Their deepest sympathy and most earnest, prayers went out to Mrs. Baird and her family.
Examiner Monday 01 May 1939 page 6
Submitted 12 October 2015 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Rev. G.M. Baird
Rev. George Mackie Baird, Presbyterian minister at South Hawthorn, died suddenly at this home, Burke Road, Upper Hawthorn, on Tuesday night. In the afternoon he had taken part in the Anzac march as a former chaplain of the A.I.F. Deceased was born at Geelong in 1872 and was a son of the late Dr. C.J. Baird, of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Geelong, a pioneer minister of the church in Australia. Educated at Geelong grammar School and Melbourne University, he graduated as a Bachelor of Arts, and underwent his theological studies at Ormond College. His pastorates included Numurkah, Mount Gambier, Richmond and St. Andrew's Launceston. He became minister at South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church in 1927. The funeral will leave South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church, corner Tooronga Road and Constance Street today, following a service at 2 p.m. for Boroondara Cemetery, Kew. Arrangements are in the hands of A.A.A Sleight Pty. Ltd.
The Age Thursday 27 April 1939 page 12
Biography contributed by Daryl Jones
BAIRD, George Mackie (1872-1939)
Rev. George Mackie Baird, Presbyterian Minister, became Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Tasmania.
H was born at Scarsdale, Victoria according to the enrolment register on 6 July 1872, the fifth of eight children of Rev. Charles Joseph Baird ( -1910) and Blanche, nee Groves ( -1920. He entered Geelong College as a day student, entered by Rev. C G Baird, on 2 August 1886 and was at the School to 1889. He was a member of the College 1st Football XX of 1889.
After matriculating in 1889 he entered Ormond College, The University of Melbourne, where he graduated BA, and played in the Ormond Tennis four. In 1904, he married Caroline Ethel Shaw, the daughter of William and Margaret Shaw, at Scarsdale. They had two children, both born at Numurkah: Charles Gibson Baird (1907-1986)in 1907 who also attended College; and Margaret Hamilton Baird in 1909.
He was a Cadet before the First World War and then served for one year in the University of Melbourne Officers Corps as Chaplain. He served 3 months at Broadmeadows camp partly with the AIF and partly with the Citizens Force. He was engaged as a Presbyterian minister in Richmond when he enlisted at the age of 46 on 25 June 1918 in the Chaplain’s Department, and embarked on HMAT A37 Barambah on 31 August 1918, arriving in London three days after the signing of the Armistice. He served at Longbridge Deverell in 1918, and at No 2 AGH, Wimereux, and 3rd Tunnelling Corps in 1919. He returned to Australia at the rank of Major, embarking on RMS Orontes on 16 December 1919. On his return to Australia he was at St Andrews Manse, Launceston. He died 26 April 1939.
His brothers: John Chalmers Baird (1862-1928); Charles Joseph Baird (1866-1900); William Joseph W Baird (1864-); Warburton Thomas Baird (1869-1936); Arthur Leeson Baird (1877-1959); Ernest McNicol Baird (1879-1952) all received education at Geelong College.
Source : The Geelong College - http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/BAIRD-George-Mackie-1872-1939.ashx
Biography
Son of Rev. Dr. C .J. BAIRD
OBITUARY
Rev. G. Mackie Baird
The death occurred at his home, 625 Burke-road, Upper Hawthorn, Victoria, on Tuesday, of Rev. George Mackle Baird, who from 1921 to 1927 was rector of St. Andrew's Church, Launceston. While in that position Mr. Baird was convener of the Foreign Missions in the Presbyterian Church. Resigning from the position, Mr. Baird went to the mainland, and after some time accepted a call to new work at Upper Hawthorn. Mr. Baird had a serious breakdown a few years ago. He leaves a wife, daughter, Beatrice, and son, Charles, all of whom live at Upper Hawthorn.
Examiner Saturday 29 April 1939 page 6
Death of Rev. G. M. Baird.
The Rev, George Mackie Baird, who succeeded the Rev, R, A. Caldwell as minister df St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Mount Garnbier, and who occupied the pulpit from September, 1909, until 1913, when he resigned, died after taking part in the Anzac March in Melbourne.
Mr. Baird was a padre with the Australian troops during the Great War. At the time of his death he was minister in charge of South Hawthorn Presbyterian Church.
Nine clergymen, led by the Moderator of the Presbyterian State Assembly (the Rev. Karl Forster), took part in the services at the house, church, and cemetery.
Members of the local sub-branch of this Returned Soldiers' League formed a guard of honour from the cemetery gates to the graveside, A commemoration service was conducted by the President (Mr. A. W. Hinds).
Border Watch Tuesday 09 May 1939 page 3
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