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 March 22nd

Cush, Peter

Date of Birth
Service No.
8799
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
26
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Cush nee Farrell of Boley, Craanford, Co. Wexford. Brother of 6587 Michael Cush.

Derry, George Francis

Date of Birth
Address
97 Cardwell Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool
Service No.
35563
Rank
Private
Regiment
East Surrey Regiment
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
33
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Theresa Derry nee Doyle of Cornmarket, Wexford.

Donnelly, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
18085
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
32
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Michael and Anne Donnelly nee Brien

Henneberry, James

Date of Birth
Address
Charlton Hill, New Ross
Service No.
6842
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
46
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Elizabeth Henneberry. Husband of Bridget Henneberry nee Moran of Church Lane, New Ross. 

Kane, John Francis Aloysius

Date of Birth
Address
Saunderscourt, Wexford
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death
Age
34
Circumstances of Death
Killed while flying at Brooklands, London
Other Biographical Details

Third son of John and Mary Kane nee O'Connor, formerly of Saunderscourt, Wexford. Brother Robert Henry.

Keane, John

Date of Birth
Address
Holman Hill
Service No.
40461
Rank
Private
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Catherine 'Kate' Keane nee Quinn. His father was a stonemason.

Maher, William

Service No.
1041
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Elizabeth Maher of Tenacre, Kilrane, Co.Wexford. Husband of Elizabeth Griffen of Monamolin.

O’Brien, John

Date of Birth
Address
5 Davis Road, Clonmel
Service No.
5739
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
41
Circumstances of Death
Died at Beggars Bush Barracks, Dublin, from heart disease
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Margaret Brien née Whitty, Clonmel. Husband of Mary O'Brien née Bulbert of 5 Davis Road, Clonmel. 

Rossiter, Michael

Address
Wexford
Service No.
26672
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Simon of 27 Emmett Square, Blackrock, Co.Dublin.

Sample Records

Rennison, Walter Martyn

Date of Birth
Address
The Rectory, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
23
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of the Revd Chancellor Henry Rennison and Mrs Kate Louisa Rennison née Palmer of The Rectory, Wexford.  Formally a medical student in Trinity College, Dublin prior to enlistment.

Fitzgerald, Gerald Hugh

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards
Date of Death
Age
28
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lord and Lady Maurice Fitzgerald of Johnstown Castle, Wexford. Husband of Dorothy Fitzgerald nee Charrington. First Wexford man to die in the War.

Ryan, James

Date of Birth
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
30
Circumstances of Death
Killed in France, railway accident
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Ryan nee Roche of Raheen, Strahart, Ferns. Formerly he was 64994 Constable in the RIC. He had been wounded six times. He was a contributor to both home and foreign magazines, being a poet of a high order.

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