Headstone of Service Number, 6058, Private Christopher Collins Burgin, 20th Battalion, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force.
Born : 23rd September 1883, Balderton, Nottinghamshire, the Son of Christopher Burgin (Senior) and Mary Ann Burgin nee Dunford.
Husband of Emma Lloyd Burgin of "Balderton", Edwin Street, Tempe, New South Wales, Australia.
Enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry (Chatham Division) at Grimsby on 23rd March 1901 on a 12 year engagement, he had enlisted under an alias as "Thomas Lee", he forfeited 4 months service when his service records were annotated as enlisted Thomas Lee alias Christopher Collins Burgin on the 22nd July 1901, his 12 year engagement recommenced from this date, he spent the majority of his 12 years service on board HM Ships and had an exemplary record, the 1911 Census shows him serving aboard the Cruiser HMS Edgar (Completed 1893, the Cruiser was re-commisioned at Portsmouth in 1913 and despatched to join the Training Squadron on the Australia Station at Queenstown, Australia, he was discharged ashore on completion of his engagement on the 23rd July 1913, he settled in Australia, at 222. Cowper
Street, Waverley, Sydney, Australia.
He married Emma Lloyd Barnes on the 22nd December 1913.
He had been working as a Tram Conductor before he re-enlisted on the 20th May 1916, he left Sydney on the 25th October 1916 after completing basic training arriving in England on the 28th December 1916, following further training including a spell as acting Corporal he landed in France on the 4th February 1917, he was wounded in action (shrapnel / gunshot wound to the left thigh) at Riencourt whilst the 20th Battalion was readying for an attack on the Hindenberg Line during the second Battle of Bullecourt, following treatment by the Australian Field Ambulance he was transferred to the Australian General Hospital at Rouen, France for further treatment, the wound appeared to be healing well and he was transferred to England, arriving at the 4th Southern General Hospital (Ford House) on the 18th May 1917, he continued to recover until he contracted septic poisoning and Pneumonia from which he died on the 3rd July 1917, he was visited by his Parents and two of his Brothers before he died.
Grave Location : St. Giles' Churchyard, Balderton, Nottinghamshire.
Grave Reference : P. 23.
CWGC Reference : 2750179.
The Personal Inscription reads "He lived well and died nobly".
Two of his brothers also served, Lance Corporal, Archibald Burgin with the Sherwood Foresters, Notts. & Derby Regiment and Bugler, Albert Burgin with the Royal Engineers.
Christopher Collins Burgin is also Commemorated on the St. Giles' Church War Memorial, Balderton, Nottinghamshire as C.C Burgin Pte Australians and the Nottinghamshire Australians Virtual War Memorial as Christopher Collins Burgin as well as on several War Memorials and Rolls of Honour in his adopted home of Australia.
Photograph taken : 30th November 2021.
Copyright : Gary Crosby.
