Welcome to Wexford Great War Dead

During the Great War, 1914 – 1918, a large number of men from Co. Wexford fought and died in the conflict which has been described as  'the war to end all wars'. This conflict resulted in a catastrophic loss of life and had dire and lasting consequences for generations across Europe.

In Wexford, the local newspapers of the period are full of the obituaries of those men and women, military and civilian, who died as a result of the war.

Until recently, it was believed that just over 500 men from Co. Wexford, who had enlisted in the British military, died fighting in the land war on the Western Front, Middle East and at Gallipoli. Research now shows this number drastically understates the loss of life for County Wexford.

Due to advances in digital archiving and on-line research tools, we now have access to Naval Service, Royal Flying Corp and Mercantile Marine records, as well as digitised birth, marriage and death records for the period. These advances in technology and research methods allow us to develop a fuller picture of the devastation caused to families and communities in County Wexford by The Great War.

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Where have all the young men gone?


When we scan the Census forms
In twenty twenty one and wonder,
Where have all the young men gone?
Then we remember.  Ypres, Mons,
And the Somme.

They went to war a hundred years ago
Brothers, Fathers, and Uncles, we never grew to know.
Where have all the young men gone?
They lay at rest in Ypres, Mons,
And the Somme

The Volunteers answered Redmond's call,
When Britain's back, was against the  wall.
Never returned to where they came from
Now at peace in Ypres, Mons,
And the Somme.

Today crowds who stand and silently wait, for the
Last post and reveille, at the Mennin Gate.
Read men’s names and the regiments they came from
Who lie in graves, unmarked, at Ypres, Mons
And the Somme.

That mournful sound as buglers play.
The Last Post in Mennin at the end of day.
Their memory in towns and villages will live on.
As they rest quietly now, In Gallipolli, Ypres, Mons,
And the Somme.

To commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the end of The Great War  1914--1918. In Memory of. Pte Thomas Byrne. 1900. 6th Bn. Royal Irish Regt. Killed in Action at Passchendale, Ypres. 5th August 1917.
Tom O'Byrne, (Nephew) August 2018.

Died on September 22nd

Hawkins, George

Date of Birth
Service No.
O/118
Rank
Leading Signalman
Regiment
Royal Canadian Navy
HMCS Rainbow
Date of Death
Age
29
Circumstances of Death
Died at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Francis 'Fanny' Hawkins nee Loftus of Killegney, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Born on September 22nd

Quinsey, Henry William

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford.
Service No.
73120
Rank
Unknown
Regiment
Household Cavalry
Date of Death
Age
37
Circumstances of Death
Died at Sea
Other Biographical Details
Son of Adam and Eliza Ellen Quinsey née Bennett.

Shore, James

Date of Birth
Address
Courtnacuddy
Service No.
1770
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
Date of Death
Age
31
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds received in France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Johanna Shore née Doyle . Husband of Mary Shore née Leary of Courtnacuddy.

Sample Records

Sikes, Richard Herbert

Date of Birth
Rank
Sub Lieutenant
Regiment
Howe Battalion
Date of Death
Age
43
Circumstances of Death
France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Cherry Sikes and Susanna Lecky Sikes 2 Parkview Wellington Rd. Cork

Toole, Edward Thomas

Date of Birth
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
31st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
31
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe. Enniscorthy Guardian article.

Thorpe, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Drumfold, Enniscorthy
Service No.
11390
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
35
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Susan Thorpe née Cowman. Husband of Catherine Thorpe née Williams of Drumgoold, Enniscorthy. 

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