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He was 33 and the son of Christopher and Mary Ann Burgin; husband of Emma Lloyd Burgin, of "Balderton," Edwin St., Tempe, New South Wales.

Balderton is a village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England.

Deaths Sep 1917  BURGIN Christopher C. 32 Devonport 5b 319
 

Christopher Collins Burgin (junior) was the son of Christopher Burgin (senior), a boot repairer, and Mary Ann Burgin, néé Dunford of 21 Woodbine Terrace, New Balderton. His father, Christopher (senior) was born in 1853 at Fenton, Lincolnshire, and his mother Mary Ann Dunford was born in 1854 at Castle Blytham, Lincolnshire. They were married in 1878 at Newark and had the following children:

John William b 1881 Beckingham,

Archibald b 1888 Balderton,

Cecil b 1891 Balderton,

Percy b 1891 Balderton

Albert  b 1897 Balderton.

In 1891 and 1901 the family lived at 21 Woodbine Terrace, Balderton. Christopher enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry (Chatham Division) at Grimsby on 23 March 1901 on a 12 year engagement, joining at the Recruit Depot Deal in Kent. He enlisted as Thomas Lee but this was discovered as his service document is annotated 'Thomas Lee Alias Christopher Colin Burgin'. He forfeited service for 'fraud enlistment', perhaps because he had enlisted under a false name, and his 12 year service engagement was then counted from 22 July 1901. The majority of his service was spent in HM Ships and he had an exemplary record. His record names his mother Mary (no surname) of Woodbine Cottage, New Balderton, as his next of kin.

In the 1911 census his mother and siblings are living at 21 Woodbine Street, Balderton and are shown as Mary Ann Burgin 54 yrs, married who is living with her children Archibald 23 yrs a labourer in a plaster pit, Cecil 20 yrs a brass moulder, and Albert 14 yrs a gardener, In the same 1911 census we find his father Christopher Burgin (senior), 57 yrs a boot repairer, is living at 18 Grove Street, Balderton, with his eldest son John William and his wife. They are shown as John William 30 yrs head of the household, a blacksmith's engineer, and his wife Alice Maud 29 yrs. In the same census, Christopher Burgin (junior), 28 yrs, is serving in HMS Edgar, a cruiser (completed 1893, name ship for her class). HMS Edgar was later recommissioned at Portsmouth on 18 March 1913 to join the Training Squadron in Queenstown, Australia. Christopher was still serving with the RMLI in 1913, probably in HMS Edgar which was on the RN's Australia station. He left the ship on 29 May 1913 and may have been attached to a shore establishment from 30 May before being discharged shore on 23 July 1913 on completion of his engagement. He was discharged to 222 Cowper Street, Waverley, Sydney. He settled in Australia marrying his wife Emma Lloyd Barnes on 22nd December 1913 at St Peter's Church, Cooks River, Sydney, Australia. They had a daughter, Colleen Lloyd, born 23rd November 1914. The family lived at 'Balderton', Edwin Street, Tempe, New South Wales. According to a newspaper report of Christopher's death, two of his brothers also served: Archibald in the Sherwood Foresters and Albert in the Royal Engineers.

 He declared that he had previously served in the Royal Marines Light Infantry on a 12 year engagement He was an engine cleaner when he enlisted in the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1901. He served for the full 12 years (1901-1913). He then served with the 20th battalion Australian Infantry and left Sydney on 25th October 1916 and arrived in England on 28th December 1916. He landed in France on 4th February 1917 and was wounded in action on 2nd May 1917. He was medically evacuated to England on 17th May 1917 and died on 3rd July 1917 of septic poisoning and pneumonia at Devonport Hospital in Devonshire..

Article published in the Newark Herald on 14th July 1917 :-

'Second son of Christopher & Mary Ann Burgin, Woodbine Terrace, Balderton. Husband of Emma Lloyd Burgin ‘Balderton’, Edwin St., Tempe, NSW. Born and educated in Balderton, he served twelve years in the Royal Marines. Latterly in Australia, where he made his home. When war broke out he joined the Australian army and arrived in England in Jan. 1917 spending four days with his family at Balderton. Wounded in France in May, he was brought to Devonport hospital, but died of septic poisoning and pneumonia. Has two brothers serving: L/Cpl Archibald Burgin (Sherwood Foresters) and Bugler Albert Burgin (Royal Engineers)'

He is remembered on the St. Giles Church War Memorial in Balderton.
 

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland

Died on this date – 3rd July .... Private Christopher Collins Burgin was born at Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England in 1884.

The 1911 England Census recorded Christopher Colin Burgin as a 28 year old Private in the Royal Marine Light Infantry on board H.M.S. Edgar, Royal Navy, which was Captained by Charles Blois Miller & was located in the China and East Indies area on the night of 2nd April, 1911.

Christopher Collins Burgin came to Australia when he was 23 years old, according to information supplied by his wife for the Roll of Honour.

Christopher Colin Burgin married Emma Barnes on 22nd December, 1913 at St. Peter’s Church, St. Peters, Sydney, NSW.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 29th May, 1916 as a 31 year old, married, Tram Conductor from Bondi, NSW.

Acting Corporal Christopher Collins Burgin embarked from Sydney, NSW on HMAT Ascanius (A11) on 25th October, 1916 with the 5th Infantry Brigade, 20th Infantry Battalion, 17th Reinforcements & disembarked at Devonport, England on 28th December, 1916.

He was posted to 5th Training Battalion at Rollestone, Wiltshire on 29th December, 1916 & appointed Acting E.D.P (extra duty pay) Corporal on 30th December, 1916. He proceeded to France on 4th February, 1917 & reverted to rank of Private in 5th February, 1917. Private Burgin joined 20th Battalion at the Front on 9th February, 1917.

Private Christopher Collins Burgin was wounded in action in France on 2nd May, 1917. He was admitted to Field Ambulance on 2nd May, 1917 with shrapnel wounds to left thigh. Private Burgin was transferred & admitted to Hospital at Rouen then embarked for England on a Hospital Ship.

Private Christopher Collins Burgin was admitted to 4th Southern General Hospital (Ford House) at Plymouth on 18th May, 1917 with G.S.W. to left thigh & Pneumonia. A Telegram to Administrative Headquarters, A.I.F., London states “Next of kin present.”

Private Christopher Collins Burgin died at 5 pm on 3rd July, 1917 at Ford House Hospital, Devonport, England from Pneumonia & Syncope. He was buried on 7th July, 1917 in St. Giles Churchyard, Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England

From Burial Report - Names of relatives or friends present at the Funeral – Mother and Father, Brothers and Aunt & Uncle.

The Red Cross Wounded & Missing file for Private Burgin includes a letter from The Matron, 4th Southern General Hospital, Devonport which reads (in part) “…He was admitted with G.S. Wound of thigh, this was quite healed and he had been getting up when he contracted Pneumonia, from which he died after five days illness. He had I am sorry to say rather acute pain and some Haemoptysis. The Medical Officer was of opinion that he had some old lung trouble. He was quite conscious to the last and knew his Mother and two brothers who came to see him from New Balderton Newark, Notts. His mother took him there to be buried. He was such a cheery soul, everybody was fond of him.”

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/balderton.html