Family Life

Christopher was born on the 10th March 1892 in Southwark, London, to Christopher George Hirons Burt and Clara Eliza Burt (née Stigant). Clara Eliza Stigant had a difficult childhood. Records show that she spent time in a workhouse with her sisters Lilly and Marion. Their brother Frederick has not been found in the Workhouse Records. The Discharge Register for 1883 records that the sisters were admitted after having been deserted by their parents. They were transferred the following day to St George’s Workhouse, Mint Street, Southwark. They were later transferred to Hanwell Schools, which, in 1896, admitted Charlie Chaplin and his brother. Their mother Clara Louisa was convicted of receiving stolen goods with a previous conviction for felony in March 1883. She was sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour. After her release from prison records show that she was admitted to the Workhouse in September 1883. She is admitted again in 1901 and in May 1904, aged 63, and described as a cook. She was twice acquitted in 1877 and 1890 for attempting to cheat. In 1859 her son Frederick also found himself in court for larceny by a servant, a charge on which he was acquitted.

Christopher’s parents had 10 children: Clara (born 1890), Christopher (born 1892), William (born 1893), Lilly (born 1895), Samuel (born 1898), Miriam (born 1901), Richard (born and died 1902), Clyde (born 1904), Horace (born 1909) and Ralph (born 1910). In the census of 1901 the family was living at 55, Ripley Road (or Place, the writing is difficult to decipher). Christopher’s father was recorded as George in this census. His occupation appears to be copper gauger but as this has been written over it is impossible to say for sure. There was a cable making factory close to where the family was living so perhaps this was where he was employed. Christopher (9) was the oldest child who was living at home with his parents. It has not yet been discovered where his elder sister Clara was at the time of the 1901 census. There were four younger siblings also living there, William (7), Lilly (5), Samuel (3) and Miriam (9mths). Christopher began his schooling along with his sister Clara and brother William at the Harrow Road School.

After the family moved to Swindon, Christopher attended Sanford Street Council School, before moving up to the Secondary School in Swindon.

Unusually Christopher was not baptised as a baby, but when he was 16 in 1908, he was baptised in Swindon along with his 14 year old brother William. They were living at 244, Ferndale Road, and their father was recorded as a traveller. This was what we would understand as a commercial traveller.

By 1911 the family had moved to 198, Ferndale Road, Swindon, Wiltshire. According to the census return this was a house with six rooms, not including bathroom, landing, lobby or scullery. Christopher’s father, now listed as Christopher rather than George as in 1901, was a draper’s assistant. Christopher, at 19, was a student teacher with the Borough Council. He was beginning to learn his profession at Ferndale Road Secondary School, Swindon, staying on as an assistant teacher for a while before going to Winchester Training College. Samuel and Miriam were school students and there were new additions to the family, Clyde Thomas (7), Horace James (2) and Ralph George (6 mths). The eldest child, Clara, was working as an under-parlourmaid in the household of Henry and Mabel Birchenough, a Company Director, residing at 79 Ecclestone Square, London. Lilly and William are not in the family home on this census, and so far no census record for them in 1911 has been found.

Winchester Training College

Winchester Training College photograph courtesy of Alwyn Ladell

In 1911 Christopher began his two years of training at Winchester Diocesan Training College. The College magazine, The Wintonian 1910-1914, had a report in the Territorials section about the shooting competition. Private Eason was awarded first prize with a score of 74 points and Christopher was second with a score of 72. Christopher was the Treasurer of the Sports Club in his time at College.

In his first college exams at Christmas 1911, Christopher was placed 8th on the order of merit with an average mark of 68.2%, but by Christmas of the following year he had slipped down to 27th place with an average mark of 59.1%. At the end of his time at College, Christopher was graded as achieving an A in Physical Training, a B for Music, Reading, Drawing and Science, and a C for Teaching. At the end of his first year Christopher achieved a Class 1 pass, and a Class 2 at the end of his final year.

In the Wintonian magazine Christopher was reported as attending the first Winton Reunion Meeting in London for the group of students who had attended College between the years of 1911-13.

After completing his course at College Christopher got his first teaching appointment at a Church of England school in Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex.