Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial Brookwood American Cemetery and Memorial is the only American Military Cemetery of World War I in the British Isles . Located approximately southwest of London , Brookwood American Cemetery contains the graves of 468 American war dead , including the graves of 41 unknown servicemen , from World War I . Maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission , the cemetery of lies to the west of the civilian Brookwood Cemetery , built by the London Necropolis Company and opened in 1854 . The American cemetery is flanked by the much larger Brookwood Military Cemetery , maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission , which contains more than 5 , 000 war dead from the two world wars . History . Most of the dead buried in Brookwood died in Great Britain or its surrounding waters . During World War I , servicemen who died in London hospitals were brought to Brookwood . After the Armistice in 1918 , the dead from various temporary sites throughout England , Scotland and Ireland were brought to it . These were members of the American Expeditionary Forces who lost their lives in England or the surrounding waters . Among those reburied in Brookwood American Cemetery were victims of the German U - boat " UB - 77 " attack on the SS " Tuscania " , a British troop transport of the Anchor Line , sunk on 5 February 1918 off the coast of Scotland . In 1929 the chapel memorial opened . Inside are the engraved names 563 missing , most of whom served in the United States Navy and Coast Guard , whose graves are in the sea . General layout . The cemetery was designed by New York architect Edgerton Swartwout ( 1870 – 1943 ) and associate architect H . B . Cresswell . Swartwout designed the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City ( 1917 ) and Brooklyn ’ s Grand Army Plaza Bailey Fountain ( 1929 ) . For Brookwood , he laid out the cemetery into four plots for the 468 headstones , grouped around a flagpole . The headstones are of Italian Carrara marble , in the shape of the Latin cross or a Star of David . Shrubs and trees frame the grave plots : evergreen , oak and Scots pine . Existing pine trees were retained to give a pleasing effect around the chapel . For color around the cemetery , rhododendron s , azalea and heather were planted . The chapel . The chapel memorial was dedicated in 1929 and designed by Swartwout and Cresswell . It is located in the northwest side of the cemetery . Engraved above the entrance is the tribute “ PERPETUAL LIGHT UPON THEM SHINES . ” A classic white stone building of Portland limestone , quarried on the Isle of Portland , Dorset , the interior is decorated with religious , military and patriotic symbols . The interior has soft tan - hued stone , with an altar , two oak pews , flags and carved doorways . There are 18 stained glass windows , each bearing the names of American States and Territories of 1918 . There are unit insignia worked into the glass and the branches of service for the Army , Navy , Marine Corps and Coast Guard . Engraved into the walls of the chapel are the names of 563 missing Americans . Most were lost at sea and their remains were never recovered or could not be positively identified . Included on the walls of the chapel are the names of all hands from the USCGC cutter " Tampa " , the largest loss of American lives at sea in the war . The cutter was in service for 11 months , until the night of 26 September 1918 , when it was attacked in the Bristol Channel . All 115 hands , as well as 16 passengers , were lost . Another naval disaster was the USS " Alcedo " , a former pleasure yacht that converted to a navy escort , and the first American ship lost in the war . It was struck by a torpedo on 17 December 1917 and lost 21 men . Also included on the wall are the names of the 11 men of the USCGC " Seneca " who were lost on 16 September 1918 , while attempting to assist the steamship " Wellington " . Notable names . There is a lone Medal of Honor recipient honored at Brookwood American Cemetery . Gunner ' s Mate First Class Osmond Ingram was the first sailor to receive the award in World War I . On 15 October 1917 , Ingram was serving on the USS " Cassin " . He spotted an incoming torpedo and attempted to release the ship ’ s load of depth charges before the torpedo struck the ship on the aft side . The torpedo struck the ship before he could accomplish his purpose and Ingram was killed by the explosion . Ingram ’ s body was never recovered ; his name is engraved in gold on the wall of the chapel with other crewmen of the Cassin . Other notables are several nurses who perished and are interred in the cemetery . Reception room . The office of the cemetery superintendent for the ABMC is next to the Reception Room . The room is a cozy location with a restroom and comfortable chairs . Included in the Reception Room is a guest book and framed portraits of every chairman of the ABMC , beginning with General Pershing . Over the carved wood fireplace is a Purple Heart , presented to the cemetery in 1965 . The accompanying certificate is signed by President Lyndon B . Johnson .