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 15th

Lawlor, William

Address
Gorey
Service No.
10230
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
Unknown
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mary. Siblings Michael, John, Julia, Lizzie, Mary Anne.

Born on June 15th

Doyle, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
26497
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
67th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
27
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Catherine Doyle nee Whitty, 37 Doyle's Street, Waterford. His father Able Seaman Patrick Doyle, SS Formby, was killed 16 December 1917.

Kane, Patrick,

Date of Birth
Alias
Keane, Patrick
Address
Gorey
Service No.
50765
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Berkshire Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
27
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Kate Kane nee Molloy of Church Street, Gorey, Co.Wexford.

Porter, William James

Date of Birth
Address
'Elmfield', Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
21
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Anne Elizabeth Porter nee Grandy of 'Elmfield' Wexford.

Power, Laurence/Lawrence

Date of Birth
Address
Arthurstown
Service No.
34101
Rank
Private
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
16th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
26
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Edward and Margaret Power née Devereux, Nook, Arthurstown. Article in a Wexford newspaper and Enniscorthy Guardian, June 1915.

Roche, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Francis Street, Wexford.
Service No.
16490
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
21
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli. (Suvla Bay Landing)
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Roche of Francis Street, Wexford.
Brother of Private William Roche No.5767. 
Memorial/Buried: Green Hill Cemetery in Turkey.

Whitty, Valentine (Val)

Date of Birth
Alias
Val
Address
Irishtown, New Ross
Service No.
4629
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
22
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Mary Ellen Whitty nee Doyle of Church Street, New Ross

Sample Records

Dempsey, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
5752A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
HMS Goliath was torpedoed in the Dardanelles
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Dempsey of Bride St, Wexford.

Flanagan Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Bullawn, Co. Wexford
Service No.
21651
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
25
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Flanagan nee Bolger of 13 Bullawn, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Merriman, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in uniform, seated.
Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
3183
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
24
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Gallipolli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Merriman nee Murphy of 52 Faythe Street, Wexford. 

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