Derby History Quiz
Derby's First World War I Battle Casualty
This was a special veterans quiz that hopefully corrects an earlier quiz. Back in 2007, we had a quiz asking for the name of Derby's first death in World War I. At the time, we believe that to be John H. Collins for whom the John H. Collins Post #24 American Legion is named. However, new evidence provided by Dave Hughes, a grand nephew of Giuseppe Cusano, and regular contributor Randy Ritter shows that Giuseppe was actually killed in France on July 15, 1918 about 3 weeks before Collins was killed on August 8. Ironically both this man and Collins are buried in the same cemetery in Belleau, France. He was born in Italy in 1889, but his draft registration from June 5, 1917 lists him as living on Eight Street in Derby and working in a manufacturing company in Ansonia. We don't know anything of his service in the war other than his death in what appears to be the early days of the Second Battle of the Marne. He was a member of the 38th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Division. Years after his death, there was a local Post of the Italian-American World War Veterans of the US named for him.
This quiz turned out to be the toughest in a while as only five people got the answer right. Correct answers were received from: Marc J. Garofalo, Sarah Beth Widomski, Jack Vagnini, Ann Searles, and Joseph DiRienzo. To see our earlier quizzes and learn more about Derby's unique history, click here.
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