Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial

Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American military cemetery of World War I in the British Isles. It lies in Surrey, about 28 miles (45 km) southwest of London, near the town of Woking. It holds the graves of 468 American war dead, including 41 unknown servicemen.

What is this place?

The cemetery covers a small site of roughly 4.5 acres inside the much larger civilian Brookwood Cemetery. It is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), the US agency that cares for American military cemeteries and memorials abroad. The land was sold to the US government in 1922 by the London Necropolis Company, which was then hired to landscape the grounds and build the chapel.

What can you see?

The main feature is a white stone chapel. Its interior is built of warm, tan-hued stone, with stained glass windows and a carved cross setting the tone. The walls bear the names of the missing, mostly US Navy and Coast Guard personnel whose remains were never recovered. The names number more than 560.

Around the chapel, evenly spaced rows of white headstones stretch across well-kept lawns. The result is a calm, orderly space that invites a quiet moment. Graves follow the usual ABMC style, and the headstones of unidentified servicemen carry an inscription noting that an unknown soldier rests beneath.

Why visit Brookwood?

It is a rare reminder of the shared American and British history of 1917-1918. Unlike the large cemeteries on the European continent, relatively few people are buried here, so the atmosphere feels intimate. A visit pairs well with exploring the rest of Brookwood Cemetery, one of the largest cemeteries in Britain.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Brookwood American Cemetery? In Surrey, England, about 28 miles southwest of central London, close to Woking.

How many servicemen are buried here? 468 American World War I dead, including 41 unknown servicemen.

Who runs the cemetery? The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC).

Is it the only one of its kind in Britain? Yes, it is the only American World War I military cemetery in the British Isles.

What do the names on the chapel walls mean? They commemorate the missing whose remains were never found, mostly sailors and Coast Guard members.

Is there an entry fee? The sources checked give no information on fees. Check the ABMC website for current opening hours before you go.

Practical information

The cemetery sits within the grounds of Brookwood Cemetery, so plan your journey to that larger site. The place is quiet, and visitors should show the respect due to a war cemetery. A walk around the grounds is short, but it is worth taking time to see the chapel interior and read the names on its walls. It makes a fitting stop on a trip from London into Surrey for anyone interested in military history and the memory of the First World War.