Research & History

Olive Steen (pictured with daughter Margaret (familysearch.com)) visited the grave at Brookwood of her son Phillip A Steen, born in September 1894, who had died on July 15th 1918 at the age of 23. Phillip was a private in 34th Division, 136th Infantry Regiment, Company L.
The Steen family lived in Duluth, St Louis County, Minnesota, but Olive had been born in Brandval, Norway in 1859 and emigrated to the USA in 1892 – the year she married her husband. Olive’s husband John (Johan), a fresco painter, was also a Norwegian, who had come to the USA twelve years earlier. Incidentally, Olive’s sisters chose to move to New Zealand, and Olive and her daughter Margaret were able to visit them in 1916, so Olive was well travelled by the time she died.
Olive died just after Christmas in 1945 at the age of 86 in California, six years after her husband who had been 80 years old at his death.
Nora Gallagan, of Hennepin, had emigrated from Ireland to Minneapolis in 1894. She was stepmother to Barney John Gallagan, a sergeant first class of 263 Areo Squadron. When Barney was young, his mother died and Nora married his Polish/Russian born father Joseph in the January of 1901. Barney’s father Joseph then died in January 1917.
The family must have felt relief at the end of the war, only for Barney to die 9 days later of influenza at the age of 27. It is fitting that 5 years later, Barney’s brother Louis named his son Bernard after him. Nora herself died just less than eight years after the pilgrimage to her step-son’s grave in March 1938 aged 63.
The family must have felt relief at the end of the war, only for Barney to die 9 days later of influenza at the age of 27. It is fitting that 5 years later, Barney’s brother Louis named his son Bernard after him. Nora herself died just less than eight years after the pilgrimage to her step-son’s grave in March 1938 aged 63.
Minnie Knaus made the pilgrimage to visit the grave of her son, Ludwig. Ludwig served as a private with 342nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Division but died on October 2nd 1918 at the age of 23.
Minnie Knaus and her family were emigrees from Gruppenbach, Germany. Minnie’s son Ludwig Knaus arrived in New York on February 17th 1904 at the age of 10, having sailed from Antwerp with his grandfather and siblings – his father William (Wilhelm) and Minnie having settled in Clarissa, Todd County, Minnesota first. Ludwig’s parents had a long life in America - Minnie outlived her husband by five years, dying at the age of 86 in 1956.
The Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz & First Lady Gwen Walz visited these graves on Sunday 14th November 2021. See the event here.

all visited Brookwood American Military Cemetery of Party Q, the second segregated pilgrimage of that year. Party Q had been given a rousing send-off when they left New York on Saturday 16th August 1930, and on arrival in Paris were greeted, amongst others, by Noble Sissle and his orchestra. They signed the visitor’s book at Brookwood on 29th August 1930.
Winifred Cornell (nee Jenkins) of Augusta, Florida, was visiting the grave of her husband who died only eight months after their marriage. Pvt. Englebert Washington Cornell died from pneumonia on October 23rd 1918, just short of his 24th birthday, whilst serving with 546 Engineers. Unfortunately, Englebert’s mother did not have the opportunity to visit her son’s grave with Winifred- she had died eight years previously, although his father lived on until 1943.
Ada Verdell Norton was a music teacher in a public school from Jacksonville, Florida. She was also visiting the grave of her husband, Pvt. William Norton. Ada married William on September 10th1917, having been previously married with a daughter.
William enlisted in the Marine Corps on 4th August 1918 and served with 546 Engineers Service Battalion Quartermaster Corps. He died of pneumonia on October 24th1918, aged 25, in Chorlton cum Hardy, Manchester, and is commemorated on the plaque at Sulgrave Manor, along with the other 112 US servicemen stationed who died and were buried in Manchester during WW1. William was then reburied at Brookwood cemetery.
Ada herself died November 12th1973 , almost reaching her 82nd birthday.
Pamela Louise Simmons was born in South Carolina, but spent the majority of her life in Atlanta Georgia. She was visiting the grave of her son Ernest W Simmons, who was in Company E, 301st Stevedore Regiment, Quartermaster Corps and had died On October 9th1918. Pamela died twenty-one years later on June 7th1939 at the age of 75.
We believe Essie Fogle was visiting the grave of Cpl. John Fogle of 345th Quartermaster Corps Labour battalion who died of pneumonia on October 7th 1918.

born 1885 in Michigan, served with the 73rd Coast Guard Regiment, and died on October 10th 1918 at Hartly College Hospital, Manchester. Like Pvt William Norton, he too was reburied at Brookwood, and is also commemorated on the plaque at Sulgrave Manor.
Both Charles’s mother and widow visited his grave at Brookwood in 1930. They were part of Party H, with Charles Wife signing the visitor book on July 1st, and his mother signing on July 5th.
During their visit, they were presented with a vellum covered diary, autographed and presented by the Prince of Wales. Their trip also included a visit to Winchester, where they were received by the Mayor and Mayoress, lunched attended by several hostesses including the Mayoress and the wife of the Bishop of Southampton and attended a service at the cathedral conducted by the Bishop of Southampton. In the afternoon, they visited the military cemetery and the American Rest Camp (Morn Hill). On July 11th, the ladies left for home on the liner Republic.
Elizabeth Hubbard, who was born in Canada, died in 1941 aged 76 in Flint, Michigan. Charles’ wife Marie died in 1979 at the age of 83 in Harper Woods Michigan.

Here in Alison Davis Wood's production is the story of mothers saying goodbye. The context of the time, the anguish and celebrations are described using archive footage and poignant personal interviews. The film examines too, many of the political issues & challenges of the era and their lasting impact.
Percy Stevens features early in the film. He is a casualty of the Tuscania sinking. We later experience his mother Laura visiting his grave at Brookwood. He lies in Grave 14, Row 4 of Block A.