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.

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.

Born on March 28th

Chapman, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Tagoat
Service No.
9539
Rank
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Mary Chapman née Furlong

Cullen, Matthew

Date of Birth
Address
Methil, Fifeshire.
Service No.
3515
Rank
12th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds on 27.10.1915 following a gun shot wound to the head on the 24.10.1915
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Cullen née Cormack. Married Mary Smith at Kirkcaldy, Fife, 1908. Left four children. Resided at Denbeath, Methil, Fife. His job on enlistment with the special reserve was as a miner. (25th August 1914).

Mann, Wilfred Oates

Date of Birth
Address
Orford, Suffolk.
Service No.
R/34568
Rank
12th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Isaac John and Wilhelmina Mann née Gerty of Orford, Suffolk.

Tierney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Ballask, Kilmore
Service No.
10310
Rank
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Sea
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Johanna Tierney nee Dunne of Ballask, Kilmore.

White, James George

Date of Birth
Service No.
K.25540
Rank
Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by an internal explosion off Sheerness while his vessel was loading mines
Other Biographical Details
Niece: Mrs M Barrett, 10 Staines Row, Limehouse E

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
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)

Leach, James

Date of Birth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidental drowning, passenger, SS Great Western
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Kate Leach nee Ryan. His father was a labourer. His gallantry medal was presented to him by King George V.  He was part of a specially selected group of 100 men that lined the aisle of Westminster Abbey for the interment of the Unknown Warrior. Widow was Ellen Mary 'Helena' Leach nee Kennedy and later Mrs James Heneberry. Left two children. Died from drowning off Great Island while returning to England as a passenger on the SS Great Western. Cause not determined at the inquest but witnesses indicated that it was not suicide. His father helped to recover the body from the river on 24th April. Buried 25 yards south-west of entrance to Kilmokea Cemetery, Co. Wexford.

Bishop, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
4498
Rank
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Bishop née Hayden, Castlebridge. Later resided in Hayestown, Co. Wexford. Killed in Flanders, Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May, 1915) in which 1st Royal Irish Regiment, serving in 27th Division, were a part.