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 December 10th

Merrigan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lapwing (Arbroath)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
While on a voyage from Rotterdam to London, SS Lapwing hit a mine laid by German Submarine UC-4.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Mary Merrigan nee Maddock of 5 Old Post Office Lane, New Ross.

Payne, Henry

Date of Birth
Address
19 Bullawn, New Ross
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Emlyndene (Cardiff)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS Emlyndene disappeared without trace while transporting coal from Cardiff, is supposed she was sunk by German Submarine UC-50
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Elizabeth Payne nee Fanning of 19 Bullawn, New Ross. Son of Henry and Mary Payne née Bryan

Born on December 10th

Donnelly, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
18085
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 Michael and Anne Donnelly nee Brien

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
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. 

Sample Records

Thorpe, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon hill, Enniscorthy
Service No.
11390
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Thorpe née Kelly. 

Fitzgerald, Gerald Hugh

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards
Date of Death
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.

Cooper, John

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
7571
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Cooper née Warren of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Brother of 2273 Michael Cooper.

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