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 January 20th

Doyle, William

Date of Birth
Alias
William Higgins
Service No.
R/3979
Rank
Able Seaman RNVR
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Nelson Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Doyle formerly Higgins née Barrington of Kilanerin, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Doyle, William

Date of Birth
Alias
William Higgins
Service No.
R.3979
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Doyle nee Barrington, formerly Higgins, Kilanerin, Gorey. His father was a labourer.

Golden, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
3276B
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Louvain
Date of Death
Age
36
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by German submarine UC-22.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Margaret Golden nee Murphy, Trinity Street, Wexford. Husband of Mary Ellen Golden nee Furlong of Wygram Place, Wexford. 

Jordan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Alias
James
Service No.
10426
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
19
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Ellen Jordan of  46 Ross Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. 

Sinnott, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
2479A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Louvain
Date of Death
Age
28
Other Biographical Details
Son of Richard and Ellen Sinnott nee Sinnott of Hardyglass, Co.Wexford.

Sample Records

Fitzhenry, James

Date of Birth
Address
Fair Gate, New Ross
Service No.
13140
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
C Battery, 62nd Brigade
Medals
Date of Death
Age
30
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Mary Fitzhenry nee Forrestal of Fair Gate, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Breen, James

Date of Birth
Alias
Brien
Address
Ross Road, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
5387
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Age
27
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in France during The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915)
Other Biographical Details

The son of the late James, and Margaret Breen née Habernathy, of 66 Ross Road, Enniscorthy. Brother of Thomas Breen (4370). Prior to enlisting on the 18th September 1914, James was employed as a shop assistant at Mr. W.K. Stamp's, Market Square, Enniscorthy. 2nd Division, in which Breen's battalion was serving, lost over 5,000 men.

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
20
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

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