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 June 20th

Byrne, Peter

Address
Ballinacarrig, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
6723
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
Unknown
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter & Mary Byrne of Ballinacarrig

Redmond, Matthew

Date of Birth
Address
124 Adelphi Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow.
Service No.
7005 and 3/7005
Rank
Private
Regiment
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Catherine Roberts Redmond nee Roberts of 124 Adelphi Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. Native of Clohamon, Ferns.

Born on June 20th

Dunne, John Henry

Date of Birth
Alias
Dunn
Service No.
PLY/15707
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Date of Death
Age
23
Circumstances of Death
Died from illness in Liverpool Hospital
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Bridget Dunne nee Tonra of Killencooly, Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford.

Sample Records

O'Connell, Benjamin

Date of Birth
Address
Tinnarath, Foulksmills, Wexford
Service No.
10686
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
24
Circumstances of Death
Executed for desertion
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary O'Connell nee Devereux of Tinnarath, Foulksmills, Wexford. From 'Shot at Dawn' by Julian Putkowski and Julian Sykes. The 1911 Census shows him with his widowed mother at Nash, Dunmain.

O'Connor, Lawrence Reynold

Date of Birth
Service No.
3250
Rank
Trooper
Regiment
Australian Light Force
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
38
Circumstances of Death
Wounded in action, died same day of the gunshot wound.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Anne O'Connor nee Sinnott, Ferns, Wexford

Higgins, Edward

Date of Birth
Service No.
13774
Rank
Private
Regiment
South African Infantry
3rd Regiment
Date of Death
Age
39
Circumstances of Death
Died in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Maggie Higgins nee Sinnott, of Maudlintown, Wexford. Husband of Matilda Elizabeth Ellen Higgins of 42 Wolhunter Road, Jeppestown, Transvaal, South Africa.

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