Donald Ridley Smirnoff Begbie (1912 - 1980)

Born 30 Sep 1912 in Leichhardt, New South Wales, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Joan McLean (Gelding) Begbie — married 27 Jul 1940 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 6 Jan 1980 at age 67 in Normanhurst, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Donald Begbie was born in New South Wales, Australia

Birth
Donald Ridley Smirnoff Begbie was born 30 September 1912 at Leichhard, New South Wales, Australia. He was the son of Herbert Smirnoff Begbie and Emily Augusta (Miller) Begbie. ^[1]

Anglican Priest
Donald Ridley Smirnoff Begbie was an Anglican Priest. He was educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School, Trinity Grammar school Dulwich Hill, NSW, Melbourne Bible College and Moore Theological College.

Positions:

Curate St Anne's Ryde Diocese Sydney

Locum Tenens Lydlinch, Sturminster, Newton, County Dorset Diocese Salisbury

Curate S John Parramatta Diocese Sydney

Chaplain Royal Australian Air Force

Locum Tenens All Saints Sutton Forest Diocese Sydney

Rector St Anne's Ryde

Rector St Pau'sl Wahroonga

Chaplain Abbotsleigh Church of England School for Girls Wahroonga

The Artist

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Thursday 22 April 1937, page 4

DONALD BEGBIE'S PICTURES

The exhibition of Donald Begbie's works which is being held at the premises of Art and Decoration, well repays inspection. Mr. Begbie's work is very definitely pleasant, because of its sincerity in reflecting his love of his subjets. The exhibition, consisting of some forty pictures in pencil, water color, and oil, with about a dozen etchings and pen and ink drawings. He is at his happiest in his interpretations of the moods and expressions of dogs, but by far the best exhibit in the show, so far as technique is concerned, is No. 30, 'The Reflected Bridge'.

Mr. Begbie is so much a master pen technique that it seems rather a pity that he does not devote more of his attention to this medium. The 'Reflected Bridge', which is done on scratchboard, shows his technique to perfection; perhaps too much so, because he has made the drawing decorative rather than soulful.

Mr. Begbie is a young man of whom more will he heard in art, and art spectators, will be well advised to inspect this moderately priced collection, for, undoubtedly, time passage of the years will mark a great increase on his modest prices. ^[2]

Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Wednesday 13 July 1938, page 5

CLERGYMAN ARTIST HAS BIG JOB

A herculean task has been under taken by Rev. Donald Begbie, curate at St. Anne's, Ryde, and son of Archdeacon H. S. Begbie, of Parramatta, who is doing the scenic painting in connection witlh the Marsden Commemoration at Sydney Town Hall. He will paint approximately 1,800 square feet of pictures. Two of his canvases are ten by eighteen feet; a number of others are ten by twelve feet. Rev. Begbie, who has also prepared posters and advertisements for the event, held an exhibition at Parramatta some time ago, when his work aroused much comment. The commemoration will be held from July 19 to July 22. ^[3]

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Tuesday 19 July 1938, page 2

Curate Painter Of Murals

A HUGE MURAL FOR SYDNEY A TOWN HALL. Painted by the Rev. Donald Begbie (left), curate of St. Anne's, Ryde. More than 1800 square feet of canvas painted by him hangs in the Town Hall for the Samuel Marsden celebrations today. ^[4]

Engagement Notice

"Family Notices" The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) 19 November 1938: page 10.

BEGBIE—GELDING.—The Engagement is announced of Joan, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Gelding, of Croydon, to (Rev.) Donald, youngest son of the Ven. Archdeacon and Mrs. H. S. Begbie, of Parramatta. ^[5]

Marriage
Donald married Joan McLean Gelding 27 July 1940 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . ^[6]

World War II Service
During World War II, Donald Ridley Smirnoff Begbie served at a Chaplain with the Royal Australian Air Force. He enlisted on 11 November 1940 and was discharged from duty 30 November 1944. He served in the Darwin area from 12 January 1943 to 11 January 1944. ^{[7] [8]}

Death
Revd. Donald Ridley Smirnoff Begbie passed away 06 January 1980 at Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Record: NSW BDM Index Name: BEGBIE DONALD R | Reg. No. 47973/1912 | Father: HERBERT S| Mother: EMILY A| Reg. PETERSHAM, NSW, Australia
2. ↑ DONALD BEGBIE'S PICTURES (1937, April 22). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), p. 4. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106157349
3. ↑ CLERGYMAN ARTIST HAS BIG JOB (1938, July 13). The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), p. 5. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104975628
4. ↑ Curate Painter Of Murals (1938, July 19). The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article247347105
5. ↑ Family Notices (1938, November 19). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 10. Retrieved January 18, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17539157
6. ↑ Marriage Record: NSW BDM Index Reg. No. 18380/1940 | BEGBIE DONALD RIDLEY SMIRNOFF | married | GELDING JOAN MCLEAN | Reg. BURWOOD, NSW, Australia
7. ↑ World War II Record: National Archives Australia: 5372233 NAA: A9300, BEGBIE D R S |BEGBIE DONALD RIDLEY SMIRNOFF : Date of birth - 30 Sep 1912 : Place of birth - Unknown : Place of enlistment - Unknown : Next of Kin - BEGBIE JOAN
8. ↑ World War II Service: Department of Veterans' Affairs Nominal Roll
9. ↑ Death Record: NSW BDM Index Name: BEGBIE DONALD RIDLEY SMIRNOFF| Reg. No. 1169/1980 | Father: HERBERT SMIRNOFF| Mother: EMILY| Reg. 001=SYDNEY, NSW, Australia

See also:

• More information about the life and career of Revd. Donald Ridley Smirnoff Begbie is available at The Cable Clerical Index

• "DONALD BEGBIE" The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950) 22 April 1937: 15. Web. 18 Jan 2024 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106157274>.

• "Clergyman As Artist" The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938) 19 July 1938: 5. Web. 18 Jan 2024 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article236403061>.