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 May 9th

Boyle, John

Date of Birth
Address
10 Green St, Wexford
Service No.
4469
Rank
Bandsman
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
42
Circumstances of Death
TB, Green St, Wexford. POW 23/08/1914. Discharged unfit for action 08/03/1919
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Jane Boyle née Ousalem. Husband of Catherine Boyle née Devereux.

Boyle, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Curracloe.
Service No.
1883
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Btn.
Date of Death
Age
22
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Mary Boyle née Howard.

Fortune, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Ferns
Service No.
10695
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Marcella Fortune of Clologue, Co. Wexford.

Smith, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Ballygarret
Service No.
7241
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
28
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Margaret Smith née Doyle 

Sullivan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Gorey
Service No.
5320
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
40
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action. Struck by a shell at Hill 60.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Sullivan of 13 Grattan Street, Gorey. Husband of Bridget Sullivan of 16 Robert Street South, Dublin. Served in the South African War. Enlisted in Wexford while living in Gorey.

Born on May 9th

Pierce, John

Date of Birth
Address
New Zealand
Service No.
24/2074
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
29
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds received in action on the Somme.
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Elizabeth Pierce nee Hill of Ballycale, Gorey. Enniscorthy Guardian article.

Spencer, William

Date of Birth
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Toro
Date of Death
Age
38
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by U55 on route to Hull.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Spencer nee Walker 18 Probys Row, Arklow, Co Wicklow. On April 12th, 1917, SS Toro, on a voyage from Alexandria to Hull with general cargo, was sunk by the German submarine U-55 (Wilhelm Werner), 200 miles WNW of Ushant (Ouessant). 14 persons were lost. Remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, UK.

Sample Records

Browne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9663
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr J. Browne of Green St, Wexford. Buried Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines, France. Served as a machine gunner - killed while manning the machine gun in a defensive position.

Smith, George Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Maudlintown, Wexford
Service No.
2534
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Australian Infantry
45th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
29
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Johanna Smith nee Sinnott of Maudlintown, Wexford. 

Cheevers, Matthew

Date of Birth
Alias
Mattie
Address
Campile, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
14211
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
12th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
22
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Cheevers née Hanlon of Horeswood, Campile, Co. Wexford.

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