As co-founder of Monuments for UK Veterans of the American Civil War Association I am often asked why we include the tag line, “Not for themselves, but for their country”. The answer to this question requires an understanding of the character of the men and women we seek to honour. On August 26th, 1863, at Norristown Pennsylvania, my British born 2 x Grandfather George Denham uttered the words, “I do solemnly swear that I will bear true and faithful allegiance to the United States of America, that I will serve them honestly and faithfully, against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever; and that I will observe and obey the orders of the President of the United States…”. That oath marked his enlistment as a Private in Company F of the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers. It was an undertaking observed by many other young men who in old age would join him in the ranks of the London Branch of American Civil War Veterans when it was founded in Bermondsey in 1910.
The London Branch of American Civil War Veterans regularly gained press interest when they paraded in London. Londoners wearing remnants of their civil war uniforms were an unusual sight. They were seen at memorial day services, and during 4th of July celebrations. They were present at the unveiling of Augustus Saint-Gaudens Lincoln Statue in Parliament Square, and at unveilings of two statues honouring George Washington. They were there to greet Pershing’s khaki-clad doughboys of the American Expeditionary Forces in 1917. Their presence was often marked by a large banner emblazoned with, “London Branch U.S. Civil War ‘Veterans’ Not for ourselves but for our country.”
The solemn oath given as young men during the Civil War held true on a banner carried by the old bluecoats. 50 years after their service to the Union and President Lincoln they still felt the United States was their country.
In 1927, the phrase, “Not for ourselves, but for our country” was also perhaps better explained by one of the Branch members. Reflecting on its 17-year existence, their honorable secretary Arthur William Frazier Smith (who had served in the 80th New York Volunteers), said, “We are now only a little band of men and the growth of our society naturally has its limitations. In a few years we shall be gone. But we are proud of our service to America and to have given a hand in our way to that great country”.
That same year the membership of the branch had dwindled from 147 proud members to just 13 men, all in their 80s. The survivors knew their time was limited and they looked to the future when they were gone. The men proposed forming a new branch for work among the widows and sons of the veterans of the Civil War. Sadly the idea never bore fruit and the demise of the London Branch was marked by the death of its last surviving civil war veteran, Samuel Lander Hough of the 2nd New Jersey Cavalry. Samuel died on December 26th, 1940, in Derby. Some members outlived Samuel, but they were not veterans with lived experience. They included the Branch President William Charles Poole, who lived until 1965. The story of the Branch was therefore almost lost to history.
When I discovered George Denham’s service, it also revealed his involvement with the London Branch. I learnt about his comrades’ experiences, which in turn, inevitably led me to many of their descendants too. It seemed to me that finding a number of descendants was an opportunity to build on the legacy created by their forebears when the London Branch was formed on September 20th, 1910. I felt collectively we had a chance to share knowledge and do “the work” proposed in 1927 by creating an Association that honoured the London Branch. On September 20th, 2023, that vision became a reality. “Descendants of the London Branch of American Civil War Veterans” was born.
The Association has a number of aims and objectives, which include raising awareness of the Branch and connecting descendants. And like the London Branch we won’t exclude - membership is open to honorary members too. We already have 20 members on the roll, including folk related to Arthur WF Smith, John Davis, Samuel Hough, Charles Edward Loyola Wright, Edward Clayton Hoare and Medal of Honor recipient Maurice Wagg. We have a Chaplain, a President, and Vice President too. Everything is aimed at honouring the London Branch in a respectful way, with references to it.
The ‘work’ imagined in 1927 also involved creating a logo that was a nod to the London Branch too. We have included “Not for themselves, but for their country”, but added some metaphors recognising the old men knew their time on earth was limited. We have a veteran with a book about his life and service. The old man is stood over a gravestone that represents the life of the London Branch. The book is being handed over to a woman. She represents a widow or daughter. There is a babe in arms who is the next generation. The child illustrates a legacy; that endeavours of the forebears can live on through generations and word of mouth. That is our hope for “Descendants of…”. We want to build on the foundations created in 1910 by its “prime mover, John Davis. His work and that of his comrades can be sustained, and is not entirely lost to history. With the right approach we can honour those long-departed veterans and help their memory live on.
If you are interested in joining as a descendant or honorary member of “Descendants of” please contact civilwarukmonumentalproject@gmail.com. The Association is in its early days, but we hope to have musters and will be proactive in our work to raise awareness, which will include a newsletter, a facebook page and closed group too. We’re rather excited about the future. And the truth of the matter, is that we are not doing just for ourselves, but for the London Branch men too. We feel they are owed that debt of gratitude.
Gina Denham is Co Founder of Monuments for UK Veterans of the American Civil War Association, and Hon Secretary of "Descendants of the London Branch of American Civil War Veterans"
Picture Credit courtesy of the Women's Relief Corps
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