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 March 7th

Dowse, William Arthur Clarence

Date of Birth
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action, Somme, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Dr. Thomas James and Katherine Elizabeth Dowse nee Trouton of 14 Lower George Street, Wexford. 

Leared, Paul Lupus

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Gurkha Rifles
7th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of Richard Hughes Leared and Sarah Mary Leared née Boxwell. Husband of Jessie Kathleen Leared of 6 Gillsland Road, Edinburgh. Mentioned in the London Gazette 1910. Served in the South African War.

Born on March 7th

Cullen, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
3642
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Eliza Cullen nee Stafford.  Stepson of Margaret Cullen nee Kavanagh.

Healey, Maurice Kevin

Date of Birth
Alias
Maurice Shine
Address
51 Castle Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Service No.
83381
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
177th Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of gunshot wound to the head at No. 12 Casualty Clearing Station, Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Joseph and Kathleen E. Healey nee Shine of Wexford. His father was a solicitor. Married Marjorie Elizabeth Sprent on 26 November 1914. Resided at Peter Street, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. Prior to enlistment as 18687 Private Maurice Shine, 3rd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, on 1 March 1915, he was a clerk with the Munster and Leinster Bank, Nenagh, but had embezzled £255 from the bank. He was arrested 27 March 1915. Convicted 17 April 1915 and sentenced to six months in prison. Upon his release he rejoined his regiment until he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 16 November 1916.

Power, Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Dennistown, Murrintown
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Mirlo (London)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS Mirlo was torpedoed, set on fire and sunk by German submarine U-117.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Robert and Kate Power nee Lawler of Dennistown, Murrintown

Sample Records

Barry, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
17986
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Balkans, Salonika/ Macedonian Campaign, Battle of Kosturio
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Bridget Barry née Cloney, Neamstown, Kilmore. Brother of Michael, Welsh Regiment, killed in action, France 23rd July 1918.

Bartholomew McCarthy

Date of Birth
Alias
Bartle
Address
45 Lambe Street, Liverpool
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lusitania (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Lusitania sunk by German submarine U-20 of the coast of Cobh, Co. Cork
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Bridget (née White)

Brown, Nicholas

Date of Birth
Alias
Browne
Address
King Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9653
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Sarah Brown née Howlin. His father was a Baker by trade.  Originally joined the 1st Batt, Royal Irish Rangers in 1908 and had served in India. Sent to France in 1914 at the outbreak of war. Buried in strand Military Cemetery, Belgium.  Died one month after Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915) in which 1st Royal Irish, serving in 27th Division, were a part. Served in Connaught Rangers before war.

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