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 April 14th

Blake, Thomas David

Date of Birth
Service No.
105125
Rank
Bombardier
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Age
29
Circumstances of Death
Died at home.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Francis & Ellen Blake née Cullen of Coddstown. Husband of Mary Blake née Meyler, Coddstown, Killinick, Co. Wexford. There is a discrepancy between record and local newspaper article in terms of place of death.

Lane, Patrick John

Address
Fulham
Service No.
23699
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal West Surrey Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
Unknown
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary. Husband of the late Annie Lacey. 

Roach, Edward

Date of Birth
Service No.
1828T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Pactolus
Date of Death
Age
43
Circumstances of Death
Died suddenly from heart failure, 14th April 1916. buried in Scotland
Other Biographical Details
Left Widow Elizabeth McLachlan, 9 Moncrieff Street, Paisley, Scotland , the son of Anthony and Anne Roach

Roberts, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
9 Bride Place, Wexford
Service No.
31442
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
23
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Margaret Roberts nee Caulfield of South Main Street, Wexford. Husband of Annie Roberts of 9 Bride Place, Wexford. Memorial on Panel 6 & 7, Ploegsteert, Belgium.

Born on April 14th

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
6952
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
35
Circumstances of Death
Killed during Battle of Le Pilly, France.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Nellie (Ellen) Brien née Fitzgerald, Byrne's Lane, Wexford whom he married on October 17th 1910. Son of the late John and Mary Brien née Kehoe, John Street, Wexford. (Later of Duke Street). Remembered on Panel 11&12, Le Touret Memorial, France.

Sample Records

Doyle, Jeremiah

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
22839
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Maria Doyle.

Fitzhenry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
John's Gate Street, Wexford
Service No.
7110
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
21
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned at Interlaken, Switzerland
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Annie Fitzhenry.  His mother was later Annie Carty of 3 John's Gate Street, Wexford. Member of the Irish National Volunteers. Severely wounded (shrapnel left leg, arm and side) and taken prisoner 2 July 1916. He was interned in Switzerland prior to a planned repatriation.

Carty, John

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
1656S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Monmouth
Date of Death
Age
24
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. Monmouth wa sunk in a Naval action in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile, South America
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr. Philip Carty of Trinity Street, Wexford.

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