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 August 6th

Fitzhenry, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
11 Banner Street, St Helen's, Lancashire
Service No.
7395
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action at Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Fitzhenry nee Neale, Killegney. Husband of Catherine Fitzenry of 11 Banner Street, St Helen's, Lancashire.

Hendrick, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
517
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action at Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Died between 6th - 9th August. His Australian enlistment papers state he was born in New Ross c.1883 and that his next of kin was Elizabeth Hendrick, Boston, who could not subsequently be located. Previously served as 9702 Gunner with the Royal Garrison Artillery. When he enlisted in 1901 he stated that he had no next of kin. Emigrated to Australia about 1912.

Parslow, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Grange, Fethard
Service No.
K/324
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Amphion
Date of Death
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

Born on August 6th

Barber, Thomas Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
3637
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action at the Battle of the Canal du Nord, France 27 September – 1 October 1918
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Ann Barber née Bobier

Edwards, James

Date of Birth
Address
Moorfield, Wexford.
Service No.
6856 and 3/6856
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from Neuritis
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Ellen Edwards née Walsh.

Sample Records

Flanagan Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Bullawn, Co. Wexford
Service No.
21651
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Flanagan nee Bolger of 13 Bullawn, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Nolan, James

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of James Nolan prior to enlisting aged 20. Freshfaced, short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with narrow knotted tie and a lighted coloured relaxed jacket.
Date of Birth
Address
Ballinamona, Ballycanew, Gorey.
Service No.
8225
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action during the Battle of San Quentin at The Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Nolan née Duffy of Ballinamona, Ballycanew. (Twin brother of Peter.) Formally with the Royal Irish Regiment Service number 5161. 
Decorated in 1917 and awarded the Military Medal, for bravery in battle on land.  He was listed in the London Gazette on 18th July 1917. Memorialised on Panel 90-93 the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France.

Redmond, William Hoey Kearney

Date of Birth
Alias
Willie Redmond.
Address
Glenbrook, Delgany, Co.Wicklow and Palace Manshions, Kensington, London.
Rank
Major
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wound received in an attack at Wytschaete Wood in Belgium after being injured by a shell.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Eleanor Redmond. Nationalist Member of Parliament for Wexford since 1884. Awarded the Legion of Honour (France). One of the rare people to be buried abroad during WW1 in a coffin. Son of William Archer and Mary Redmond née Hoey. Younger brother of John E. Redmond MP and Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

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