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.

About

The Records

About

Contact Us

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 August 26th

Connors, Patrick

Date of Birth
Alias
O'Connor
Address
Rathangan
Service No.
8281
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
27
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Ellen Connors née Walsh of Johnstown, Duncormick, Wexford. Effects to his father. Brother of Michael J O'Connor 1883 Welsh Guards.

Hickey, John

Date of Birth
Address
Cross Lane, New Ross
Service No.
72995
Rank
Driver
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
122nd Battery
Date of Death
Age
19
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Anastasia Hickey nee Shea of 1 Cross Lane, New Ross. 

Born on August 26th

Goode, Henry William

Date of Birth
Address
13 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool
Service No.
114682
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
177th Siege Battery
Date of Death
Age
30
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Eliza Anne Goode nee White, Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. His father was a policeman. Husband of Sarah Goode nee Jones of 13 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool. 

Parslow, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Grange, Fethard
Service No.
K/324
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Amphion
Date of Death
Age
23
Circumstances of Death
HMS Amphion was first ship to be sunk during World War
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Elizabeth Parslow nee Deacon of Grange, Fethard. His father was a farmer

Sinnott, Stephen

Date of Birth
Service No.
6259
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
26
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Anthony and Anne Sinnott nee Brien

Sample Records

Sherwood, Richard Atwell

Date of Birth
Address
7 Parnell Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9220 (7220 Pension Record)
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
31
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Esther Victoria Sarah Sherwood née Atwell, ex-R.I.C. Sergeant, 7 Parnell Street, Wexford. Brother of John above. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) in France.

Swift, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
7026
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
35
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Bartholomew and Ellen Swift née Neill. Husband of Catherine née Lewis.

Byrne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Gorseinon, Glam.
Service No.
53948
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Age
24
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action near Ypres, Flanders just before the opening of the Third Battle of Ypres.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Catherine Byrne née Karney.

Explore the Records