Wexford Great War Dead

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 September 24th

Kent, Patrick Joseph

Address

New Ross

Service No.

9232

Rank

Private

Regiment

Irish Guards

1st Battalion

Date of Death

Sunday September 24th 1916

Circumstances of Death

Died of wounds France and Flanders

Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Kent of Mary Street, New Ross.

Born on September 24th

Cotton, Edward

Date of Birth

Thursday September 24th 1896

Rank

Able Seaman

Regiment

Mercantile Marine

SS Mary Fanny (Bideford)

Date of Death

Sunday September 15th 1918

Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Elizabeth Cotton nee Druhan of 31 Cross Lane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Sample Records

Buttle, Albert Edward

Date of Birth

Sunday January 6th 1895

Address

Templeshannon, Enniscorthy

Rank

Second Lieutenant

Regiment

Royal Irish Rifles

17th Battalion

Date of Death

Wednesday October 2nd 1918

Circumstances of Death

Died of wounds at No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station.

Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Annie Buttle of Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. His father, John was Director of Messrs. Buttle Bros & Co. Ltd, Bacon Curers and Merchants. Albert was educated in Newtown School, Waterford and Model School, Enniscorthy. Enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st April 1915. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Bn. Took part in the Battles of the Somme in July 1916 and was invalided home in January 1917. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 1917. Was offered a medical discharge being medically unfit, but volunteered again and rejoined his regiment in France on 29th May 1918. A casualty of the Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 Sept – 2 Oct 1918). Buried in Haringhe Military Cemetery.