Name
Albert Arthur Burgin
6 October 1875
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
19/01/1918
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
49379
The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
transf. to (79291) Labour Corps
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ISLINGTON CEMETERY AND CREMATORIUM
Screen Wall. Z. 16336.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Memorial Hall Memorial, Bovingdon*1, Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Islington War memorial
Pre War
Albert Arthur Burgin was born on 6 October 1875 in Bovingdon, Herts, the son of Arthur and Sarah Burgin and baptised on 26 December 1875 at St Lawrence Church, Bovingdon.
His father died in 1879 and on the 1881 Census he was living with his widowed mother and brother Philip in Bovingdon where his mother was working as a straw plaiter. His mother also died in 1883 and by the 1891 Census, 15 year old Albert and his 12 year old brother Philip were lodgers at the home of George and Ann Carter (their grandparents) in Bovingdon and working as farm labourers.
He married Elizabeth Chesser on 25 December 1893 at St Mark's Church, Shoreditch, Hackney, Middlesex and on the 1901 Census he was living with his wife and daughters Elizabeth and Florence at 77 George's Road, Islington, Holloway, London and working as a Carman.
They remained at 77 George's Road in 1911 and although they had six children born alive, only Elizabeth and Florence had survived. Albert was working as a Carman for Islington Borough Council.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Whitehall, London in early 1917 and initially served with the Royal West Surrey Regiment. (Reg. No. 49379), later transferring to the 133rd Labour Company. This usually indicates that he was no longer fit for the Front through illness or injury.
He died from broncho-pneumonia on 19 January 1918 at the Military Hospital, Endell Street, Covent Garden, London, and was buried on 26 January 1918 at Islington and St Pancras Cemetery. His name is commemorated on the Screen Wall behind the Memorial Cross.
(Note: Endell Street Hospital was established by two pioneering suffragette doctors, Flora Murray and Louisa Garrett Anderson. and was staffed entirely by women,)
Additional Information
His widow received a pension initially of 13s 9d, later increased to £1 2s 5d. *1 It is possible that this man is listed on the Memorial Hall Memorial, however is simply lists A Burgin and there is another possible man, Alfred Burgin who is listed on the St Lawrence Church Memorial.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
