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 28th

Allen, Lawrence

Date of Birth
Service No.
202011
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Salonica
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Allen of Harry St, New Ross.  Widow Elizabeth, residing in Birkenhead. Liverpool. 

Barnes , Edward MM

Date of Birth
Address
Bannow, Co. Wexford
Service No.
8/12575
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
8th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Benjamin and Mary Ann Barnes née Gooding. In 1901 the family resided in Bannow, Co. Wexford, where his father was with the Coast Guard. Prior to enlisting Edward worked as a wood turner in Belfast.

Doyle, Martin

Date of Birth
Service No.
6547
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Margaret Doyle nee Quinn of Nunnery Lane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 

Elmes, King

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
attached 2nd/16th Battalion London Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Mary Elmes née Robinson of Robinstown House, Palace East, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 

Healey, Maurice Kevin

Date of Birth
Alias
Maurice Shine
Address
51 Castle Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Service No.
83381
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
177th Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of gunshot wound to the head at No. 12 Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Joseph and Kathleen E. Healey nee Shine of Wexford. His father was a solicitor. Married Marjorie Elizabeth Sprent on 26 November 1914. Resided at Peter Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Prior to enlistment as 18687 Private Maurice Shine, 3rd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, on 1 March 1915, he was a clerk with the Munster and Leinster Bank, Nenagh, but had embezzled £255 from the bank. He was arrested 27 March 1915. Convicted 17 April 1915 and sentenced to six months in prison. Upon his release he rejoined his regiment until he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 16 November 1916.

Nolan, James

Address
New Ross
Service No.
1026 and G/1026
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of William Nolan or Irish Town, New Ross, Co.Wexford.

Born on September 28th

Goodwin, Michael Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
13521
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Sarah Goodwin née Ewens.

Norris, Stanley Jeptha

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
8606
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Duke of Cornwall Light Infantry
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Jeptha and Louisa Anne Norris née Daw. His father was in the coast guard. Married Cissie Ada Collins 1912.

Sample Records

O’Connor, Thomas

Date of Birth
Alias
Tom
Address
Duncormick, Co.Wexford
Service No.
241768
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Murphy O'Connor of Duncormick, Co.Wexford. Fostered by Tom and Maryanne Moran at Belgrove, Duncormick. After the death of foster mother, Tom lived with Phil Moran and Mary Corish in Duncormick. Left effects to his aunt Miss Mary Moran. Buried (Grave number D18), Fienvillers British Cemetery, Lower Somme, France.

Canavan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey
Service No.
5872
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Charles and Margaret Canavan née Smith. His father was a Metropolitan police Office. He lived Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey with his uncle James Canavan. He was a Gaelic Leaguer and all Ireland Hornpipe champion in 1906 at the Wexford Feis and again the following year in Wicklow. Buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy , France.

Roche, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Francis Street, Wexford.
Service No.
16490
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
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.

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