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.

Born on February 18th

Atkins, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
6885
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Second Battle of Ypres, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Samuel Atkins of South Main Street, Wexford

Canavan, Matthew

Date of Birth
Address
Ballon, Co.Carlow
Service No.
7667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during Battle of Le Pilly, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Anne Canavan née Roche. Married Margaret Doran 1907. Widow later Mrs Peter Kearney.  Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee.

Ormsby, George

Date of Birth
Address
Hammersmith, Middlesex.
Service No.
210867
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Sgt Richard Ormsby, RIC, nd Elizabeth née Brosnan.

Travers, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
Duncannon
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Dowlais (Cardiff)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by a German submarine off Cap De Fer.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Andrew and Mary Travers née Eustace. Husband of Mary Kate Travers née Maher of Duncannon.

Sample Records

Reid, Edgar

Date of Birth
Address
Born in Mullingar, Co.Westmeath.
Service No.
7111
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds from a burst shell in the trench where he was standing at the time, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Julia Reid née Tolster. The 1911 Census shows him, aged 12, with his parents at 18 Monck Street, Wexford.

White, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
177 The Faythe, Wexford.
Service No.
9511
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Nicholas and Mary Ann White née Doyle. Mother widowed in 1903, returned to Wexford and remarried to Michael Kavanagh, The Faythe (and later of Byrnes Lane). Effects to his mother. Lived with his mother and step-father in the Faythe and worked as a Messenger Boy aged 13 in 1911.

Flanagan Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Bullawn, Co. Wexford
Service No.
21651
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
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.

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