THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
An interesting and unusual gathering took place at Manor Park Cemetery, East London, April 29, 2023, when community members remembered a Londoner, and former resident of Southwark, who served with Union forces during the American Civil War.
Gina Denham, co-founder of Monuments for UK Veterans of the American Civil War Association organized the event to honor Francis Albermar McDougal, who served with the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers from 1863 through to the war's conclusion in 1865. He was born in Clerkenwell and died in Southwark in 1907. "My great-great Grandfather George Denham was also a Londoner," recalled Gina, "and he served with the 111th too. After the conflict he returned to London, like Francis. The sad thing is that they never knew about each other. I know all about the bitter fighting the two men experienced during the American Civil War. I had managed to obtain an official headstone from the United States for George Denham, who is buried at Pancras and Islington Cemetery, and I felt that Francis deserved the same honor too".
Staff at Manor Park Cemetery supported Gina's application for an official headstone and the dedication ceremony was organized. Attendees included the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Sunil Chopra, and Councillor Jennifer Bailey from Newham Council. Among the guests were living historians from the Southern Skirmish Association wearing Union uniforms, and representatives from the United States Embassy, and from the Lincoln-Cushing Camp No. 2 (Washington, DC) Sons of Union Veterans of the American Civil War.
Speaking during the dedication, the Mayor of Southwark said that Francis, "Was witness to the horrors of the conflict. He suffered physically, and no doubt, mentally, as a result of enlisting to play his part in securing freedom and liberty. He may never have been aware, but there were other American Civil War Veterans living in our borough. Those long departed American Civil War veterans represent the rich tapestry and history of our community in Southwark. Therefore, I am honoured to be here today to recognise Francis and his contribution to freedom, the community of Southwark, and the American Civil War".
Gina has identified over 575 American Civil War veterans who made the United Kingdom their home after the conflict. She plans to obtain more headstones as well as one single monument to honor their service. She said: "Their involvement in shaping the history of the United States has been virtually forgotten. I've found over a hundred Londoners, Black and White, who played their part in the conflict. They represent the diverse history of our capital city, and I feel they deserve remembrance".
