Derby Honours Jewish US Civil War Veteran

Disparate we may be, but the influence and reach of the Derbyshire Jewish Community can be said to be growing. It would be difficult to argue with this after we were approached by Gina Costin, the great-great granddaughter of a US Civil War veteran, to represent the Jewish community and say prayers for Henry McGuinness. Gina is from Monuments for UK Veterans of the American Civil War Association. Her research led her to discover that two American Civil War veterans were buried in Nottingham Road cemetery, Derby, but neither had been given gravestones.

Like Gina’s great-great grandfather, McGuinness, born Magnus, had been an American Civil War veteran. Although born in Finchley, north London, to Jewish parents, he’d lived his later and final years in Derby.

Outside of hearing about Henry’s colourful life, his immigration to America, and final years, it was nothing short of astonishing for Gina to seek respectful and culturally appropriate memorials to Henry and his fellow veteran, Samuel Lander Hough.

It was an incredible experience, and one which had been prepared with much thought. The representatives of DJC were one short of a minyan, I noticed, with a small amount of amusement. We were, however, treated with respect. Others there approached us to ask how we were, referencing the current climate of rising anti-Semitism. We were not only appreciated but valued, and we brought our cultural traditions to the fore. We might have had to remove them for the photographs, but our stones were placed and left on the memorial to Henry. They somehow seemed to make more sense than the poppy wreaths placed by the three US servicemen from the airbase at Lakenheath.

We did not know Henry’s Hebrew name but he was honoured by us, in the city where he spent his final years.