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 February 1st

Fox, James

Date of Birth
Address
Cornmarket, Wexford
Service No.
T/2484
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Cornmarket after being discharged due to pulmonary tuberculosis
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Cecilia Fox nee Hayes. Brother of Michael Fox. Buried with full honours in St. Ibar's Cemetery, Crosstown

Neill, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Hill Street, Wexford
Service No.
4802
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Hannah Neill née Healy Hill Street, Wexford.

Born on February 1st

Byrne, John

Date of Birth
Address
Ballinatray Cottages, Courtown.
Service No.
5373.B.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Hyacinth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Ellen Brennan Byrne, Ballinatray, Gorey. Son of John and Ann Byrne née Berry.

Doyle, Andrew

Date of Birth
Service No.
3131.B.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Inverawe
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease at Dreadnought Hospital, Greenwich
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Bridget Doyle. Cousin of Edward Turner, Riverchapel, Courtown Harbour, Wexford.

Hatchell, Nicholas

Date of Birth
Address
Dodd's Lane, Wexford.
Service No.
15022
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Catherine 'Kate' Hatchell nee Dunn. Married Margaret Colfer in 1906. His widow was later Mrs Margaret Atkinson of 3 Fleming's Court, Castle Lane, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. 

Sample Records

Merriman, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in uniform, seated.
Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
3183
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Gallipolli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Merriman nee Murphy of 52 Faythe Street, Wexford. 

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)

Ryan, James

Date of Birth
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in France, railway accident
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Ryan nee Roche of Raheen, Strahart, Ferns. Formerly he was 64994 Constable in the RIC. He had been wounded six times. He was a contributor to both home and foreign magazines, being a poet of a high order.

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