US Civil War veterans honoured with new headstones

Two veterans of the American Civil War have been honoured with new gravestones at their cemetery in Derby.

Both Samuel Hough, who served with the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry, and Henry McGuinness, of the 65th New York Infantry, were moved to the US for a time but returned to Britain after the war.

They were buried in Nottingham Road Cemetery, Chaddesden, but never received official recognition for their time with the Union (northern army).

Thanks to a wider research project, official military tombstones have been set up close to their graves and these were unveiled with a US Army honour guard.

The recognition for Mr Hough and Mr McGuinness follows research by Gina Denham, from Essex, who uncovered more than 600 veterans who served in the war but died in the UK without commemoration.

The American Civil War was a conflict from 1861 to 1865 between the Union (the North) and the Confederacy (the South) over states' rights and the expansion of slavery.

Mr Hough from, Derby, who was taken to the US by his parents in 1850 when he was two, lied about his age to join up in 1863.

On his return to Derby, Mr Hough set up a business as a cooper in Ford Street and died aged 92 in 1940.

Mr McGuinness was born in London in 1839 but moved to the US in 1859.

For his services in the army, Mr McGuinness was awarded a pension by the US government and moved back to the UK.

Upon his return, he became close friends with Mr Hough and research suggests both men became members of the London Branch of American Civil War veterans.

Mr McGuinness died aged 77 in 1916, in Cambridge Street, Derby.

About 25 descendants of Samuel Hough came to the ceremony but neither of the two members of Mr McGuinness's family traced by researchers were able to attend.

Also attending was a honour guard from RAF Lakenheath and a group of American Civil War reenactors.

Gina Denham, 62, co founder of the Monuments for UK veterans of the American Civil War Association, said: "What makes it more unusual is that Samuel Hough who we're honouring today is the last American civil war veteran to die in the UK, he died 26 December 1940.

"This is just unusual on so many levels but really special."

Janet Leech, 79, great granddaughter of Samuel Hough, said: "I think it's absolutely brilliant.

"I had no idea it was going to be this official and so celebratory and, well, we are just very proud of him and glad to see him honoured in this way.

"And of course very grateful to the American government for everything they've done.

"And we've learnt so much about great grandad that we didn't know."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.