Esther was the youngest daughter born to Esselean West and Dr. Sydney Throckmorton Slocum on August 28, 1886 at Asbury Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Her older sisters were Blanche (1876) and Anna Maude (1885). Their father was a carpenter as a young man and later studied dentistry. He moved the family to Asbury Park in 1883 where he succeeded his brother, the late Dr. Maurice C. Slocum who was also a dentist. The lived at 204 Main Street, a prominent neighborhood no doubt. Esther graduated from Asbury Park High School about 1903 and then attended a Newark, New Jersey business school to learn secretarial skills. Father Sydney passed on June 25, 1910 of Bright’s disease when she was 23. By this time Esther was employed as a stenographer for the Fidelity Trust Company in Newark.
When the United States entered the World War April 6, 1917, doctors, nurses and workers of all kinds were needed for the war effort, both at home and overseas in Europe. The YMCA was one of the first organizations to send workers overseas to provide administrative leadership and support to US Armed Forces. Esther eager to help applied, was accepted and appointed a stenographer of the national War Work Council of the Young Men’s Christian Association for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France and England. On October 25, 1917 she made application for her US Passport for travel to Europe. She was five foot, 1 inch tall with blue eyes, brown hair and had a fair complexion.
In early November she departed for France to serve as secretary and stenographer to the two head officials in the Paris office of the YMCA. She expected to serve for six months but became so interested in her work that she stayed on. The October 28, 1918 edition of the Long Branch Daily Record Newspaper described her work “In the department in which she is located American professor and college men are sent out among French army officers and the poilus to teach them the English language. The idea is to promoted good feelings between France and America”. The article went on to say “Miss Slocum was invited to be the guest of a French family, none of the members of which were able to converse in English. With her two years of high school French and the little she has been able to pick up in conversation, she says she got along nicely. In closing she pays tribute to the splendid French spirit of undaunted courage and unswerving loyalty”. The signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918 ended the World War but Esther continued her work with the YMCA.
The following is courtesy of the Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, November 19, 1919 and is presented in part. “In February 1919 Miss Slocum was taken suddenly ill with intestinal trouble while working in Paris and was operated upon there. In the hope that she would be able to recuperate her health in a warmer climate the YMCA officials ordered her removal to the Mediterranean. A second operation performed at Mentone, France on May 1 resulted in her death two days later. She was buried with full military honors following funeral services held in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Nice that was attended largely by YMCA and Red Cross workers, army officers and men. A detail of army officers accompanied the body to the Caucade cemetery where interment was made in a section set aside for the burial of army dead. A firing squad fired a salute over the grave and ‘Taps’ were sounded. Her mother was awaiting word of her departure for home when the message came telling of her death. Later her mother received a letter from Chaplain S. A. Griffith, ‘We had a memorial service in honor of your daughter’s sacrifice and heroism which she so generously demonstrated in the great cause. You can well be proud of the service she rendered’”.
Esther Slocum was buried a described above in Grave # 28. A few months later in October her family was given the choice of bringing her remans home for reburial or leaving Esther to be buried in a new American cemetery with those she served and served with. Mother Esselean like 30% of other families facing the same decision chose the latter. On October 18, 1921, Ester was reburied for the final time in Plot B, Row 20, Grave 4, Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, Suresnes, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: Although eligible for the US Government’s Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage of 1930-33, documentation could not be found and it appears her mother did not travel to her grave. Mother Esselean passed in 1937 at the age of 84 and is buried with her husband in the Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, New Jersey.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Esther or her family justice but it does help keep her memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
When the United States entered the World War April 6, 1917, doctors, nurses and workers of all kinds were needed for the war effort, both at home and overseas in Europe. The YMCA was one of the first organizations to send workers overseas to provide administrative leadership and support to US Armed Forces. Esther eager to help applied, was accepted and appointed a stenographer of the national War Work Council of the Young Men’s Christian Association for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France and England. On October 25, 1917 she made application for her US Passport for travel to Europe. She was five foot, 1 inch tall with blue eyes, brown hair and had a fair complexion.
In early November she departed for France to serve as secretary and stenographer to the two head officials in the Paris office of the YMCA. She expected to serve for six months but became so interested in her work that she stayed on. The October 28, 1918 edition of the Long Branch Daily Record Newspaper described her work “In the department in which she is located American professor and college men are sent out among French army officers and the poilus to teach them the English language. The idea is to promoted good feelings between France and America”. The article went on to say “Miss Slocum was invited to be the guest of a French family, none of the members of which were able to converse in English. With her two years of high school French and the little she has been able to pick up in conversation, she says she got along nicely. In closing she pays tribute to the splendid French spirit of undaunted courage and unswerving loyalty”. The signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918 ended the World War but Esther continued her work with the YMCA.
The following is courtesy of the Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, November 19, 1919 and is presented in part. “In February 1919 Miss Slocum was taken suddenly ill with intestinal trouble while working in Paris and was operated upon there. In the hope that she would be able to recuperate her health in a warmer climate the YMCA officials ordered her removal to the Mediterranean. A second operation performed at Mentone, France on May 1 resulted in her death two days later. She was buried with full military honors following funeral services held in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Nice that was attended largely by YMCA and Red Cross workers, army officers and men. A detail of army officers accompanied the body to the Caucade cemetery where interment was made in a section set aside for the burial of army dead. A firing squad fired a salute over the grave and ‘Taps’ were sounded. Her mother was awaiting word of her departure for home when the message came telling of her death. Later her mother received a letter from Chaplain S. A. Griffith, ‘We had a memorial service in honor of your daughter’s sacrifice and heroism which she so generously demonstrated in the great cause. You can well be proud of the service she rendered’”.
Esther Slocum was buried a described above in Grave # 28. A few months later in October her family was given the choice of bringing her remans home for reburial or leaving Esther to be buried in a new American cemetery with those she served and served with. Mother Esselean like 30% of other families facing the same decision chose the latter. On October 18, 1921, Ester was reburied for the final time in Plot B, Row 20, Grave 4, Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, Suresnes, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: Although eligible for the US Government’s Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage of 1930-33, documentation could not be found and it appears her mother did not travel to her grave. Mother Esselean passed in 1937 at the age of 84 and is buried with her husband in the Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, New Jersey.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Esther or her family justice but it does help keep her memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
Esther was the youngest daughter born to Esselean West and Dr. Sydney Throckmorton Slocum on August 28, 1886 at Asbury Park, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Her older sisters were Blanche (1876) and Anna Maude (1885). Their father was a carpenter as a young man and later studied dentistry. He moved the family to Asbury Park in 1883 where he succeeded his brother, the late Dr. Maurice C. Slocum who was also a dentist. The lived at 204 Main Street, a prominent neighborhood no doubt. Esther graduated from Asbury Park High School about 1903 and then attended a Newark, New Jersey business school to learn secretarial skills. Father Sydney passed on June 25, 1910 of Bright’s disease when she was 23. By this time Esther was employed as a stenographer for the Fidelity Trust Company in Newark.
When the United States entered the World War April 6, 1917, doctors, nurses and workers of all kinds were needed for the war effort, both at home and overseas in Europe. The YMCA was one of the first organizations to send workers overseas to provide administrative leadership and support to US Armed Forces. Esther eager to help applied, was accepted and appointed a stenographer of the national War Work Council of the Young Men’s Christian Association for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France and England. On October 25, 1917 she made application for her US Passport for travel to Europe. She was five foot, 1 inch tall with blue eyes, brown hair and had a fair complexion.
In early November she departed for France to serve as secretary and stenographer to the two head officials in the Paris office of the YMCA. She expected to serve for six months but became so interested in her work that she stayed on. The October 28, 1918 edition of the Long Branch Daily Record Newspaper described her work “In the department in which she is located American professor and college men are sent out among French army officers and the poilus to teach them the English language. The idea is to promoted good feelings between France and America”. The article went on to say “Miss Slocum was invited to be the guest of a French family, none of the members of which were able to converse in English. With her two years of high school French and the little she has been able to pick up in conversation, she says she got along nicely. In closing she pays tribute to the splendid French spirit of undaunted courage and unswerving loyalty”. The signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918 ended the World War but Esther continued her work with the YMCA.
The following is courtesy of the Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, November 19, 1919 and is presented in part. “In February 1919 Miss Slocum was taken suddenly ill with intestinal trouble while working in Paris and was operated upon there. In the hope that she would be able to recuperate her health in a warmer climate the YMCA officials ordered her removal to the Mediterranean. A second operation performed at Mentone, France on May 1 resulted in her death two days later. She was buried with full military honors following funeral services held in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Nice that was attended largely by YMCA and Red Cross workers, army officers and men. A detail of army officers accompanied the body to the Caucade cemetery where interment was made in a section set aside for the burial of army dead. A firing squad fired a salute over the grave and ‘Taps’ were sounded. Her mother was awaiting word of her departure for home when the message came telling of her death. Later her mother received a letter from Chaplain S. A. Griffith, ‘We had a memorial service in honor of your daughter’s sacrifice and heroism which she so generously demonstrated in the great cause. You can well be proud of the service she rendered’”.
Esther Slocum was buried a described above in Grave # 28. A few months later in October her family was given the choice of bringing her remans home for reburial or leaving Esther to be buried in a new American cemetery with those she served and served with. Mother Esselean like 30% of other families facing the same decision chose the latter. On October 18, 1921, Ester was reburied for the final time in Plot B, Row 20, Grave 4, Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, Suresnes, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: Although eligible for the US Government’s Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage of 1930-33, documentation could not be found and it appears her mother did not travel to her grave. Mother Esselean passed in 1937 at the age of 84 and is buried with her husband in the Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, New Jersey.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Esther or her family justice but it does help keep her memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
When the United States entered the World War April 6, 1917, doctors, nurses and workers of all kinds were needed for the war effort, both at home and overseas in Europe. The YMCA was one of the first organizations to send workers overseas to provide administrative leadership and support to US Armed Forces. Esther eager to help applied, was accepted and appointed a stenographer of the national War Work Council of the Young Men’s Christian Association for service with the American Expeditionary Forces in France and England. On October 25, 1917 she made application for her US Passport for travel to Europe. She was five foot, 1 inch tall with blue eyes, brown hair and had a fair complexion.
In early November she departed for France to serve as secretary and stenographer to the two head officials in the Paris office of the YMCA. She expected to serve for six months but became so interested in her work that she stayed on. The October 28, 1918 edition of the Long Branch Daily Record Newspaper described her work “In the department in which she is located American professor and college men are sent out among French army officers and the poilus to teach them the English language. The idea is to promoted good feelings between France and America”. The article went on to say “Miss Slocum was invited to be the guest of a French family, none of the members of which were able to converse in English. With her two years of high school French and the little she has been able to pick up in conversation, she says she got along nicely. In closing she pays tribute to the splendid French spirit of undaunted courage and unswerving loyalty”. The signing of the Armistice, November 11, 1918 ended the World War but Esther continued her work with the YMCA.
The following is courtesy of the Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, New Jersey, November 19, 1919 and is presented in part. “In February 1919 Miss Slocum was taken suddenly ill with intestinal trouble while working in Paris and was operated upon there. In the hope that she would be able to recuperate her health in a warmer climate the YMCA officials ordered her removal to the Mediterranean. A second operation performed at Mentone, France on May 1 resulted in her death two days later. She was buried with full military honors following funeral services held in the Scotch Presbyterian Church, Nice that was attended largely by YMCA and Red Cross workers, army officers and men. A detail of army officers accompanied the body to the Caucade cemetery where interment was made in a section set aside for the burial of army dead. A firing squad fired a salute over the grave and ‘Taps’ were sounded. Her mother was awaiting word of her departure for home when the message came telling of her death. Later her mother received a letter from Chaplain S. A. Griffith, ‘We had a memorial service in honor of your daughter’s sacrifice and heroism which she so generously demonstrated in the great cause. You can well be proud of the service she rendered’”.
Esther Slocum was buried a described above in Grave # 28. A few months later in October her family was given the choice of bringing her remans home for reburial or leaving Esther to be buried in a new American cemetery with those she served and served with. Mother Esselean like 30% of other families facing the same decision chose the latter. On October 18, 1921, Ester was reburied for the final time in Plot B, Row 20, Grave 4, Suresnes American Cemetery and Memorial, Suresnes, Departement des Hauts-de-Seine, Île-de-France, France. Day is done, God is nigh.
Epilogue: Although eligible for the US Government’s Gold Star Mother and Wives pilgrimage of 1930-33, documentation could not be found and it appears her mother did not travel to her grave. Mother Esselean passed in 1937 at the age of 84 and is buried with her husband in the Glenwood Cemetery, West Long Branch, New Jersey.
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Esther or her family justice but it does help keep her memory alive. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
Gravesite Details
Secretary, Young Men's Christian Association. Entered the service from New Jersey.
Family Members
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