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 3rd

Breslin, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Broadway.
Service No.
1884
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders. Killed in the Somme sector during the Battle of Guillemont (3-6 September 1916), in the First Battle of the Somme .
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick Edward and Ellen Breslin née Doyle. His father was a painter. No claim made on his army estate. The 1911 Census shows him boarding at Eardownes, Broadway.

Fortune, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Monageer
Service No.
2020
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ann Fortune nee Doyle of Gorey Hill, Gorey, Co. Wexford. 

Gaynor, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Clearistown
Service No.
3062
Rank
Private
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Anne Gaynor nee Hanlon, The Dirr. Brother of Mrs Kehoe of  Shelmaliere Common, Clearistown, Co. Wexford.  Served in the Boer War.

Jackman, James

Date of Birth
Address
Clohamon, Co.Wexford
Service No.
S/14487
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Rifle Brigade
16th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Catherine Jackman née Walsh.

O’Connor, James

Date of Birth
Address
Arklow, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
4424
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Loos
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Mary O'Connor née Ronan.

Pierce, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Churchtown, Co. Wexford
Service No.
7185
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mr James and Anne Pierce nee Fowler of Murrintown, Wexford.

Prendergast, John

Date of Birth
Address
Mulrankin
Service No.
11462
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Bridget Prendergast nee Prendergast of Mulrankin Bridgetown. Article in a Wexford newspaper.

Born on September 3rd

Mayne, Cecil Robert

Date of Birth
Address
Harrow on the Hill, London
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert (Shop Manager)and Minnie Todd Mayne nee Buckley.  1901 Census.

King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. 2nd/5th Battalion attached 7th.

Sample Records

Thorpe, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon hill, Enniscorthy
Service No.
11390
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Thorpe née Kelly. 

Sherwood, Richard Atwell

Date of Birth
Address
7 Parnell Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9220 (7220 Pension Record)
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Esther Victoria Sarah Sherwood née Atwell, ex-R.I.C. Sergeant, 7 Parnell Street, Wexford. Brother of John above. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) in France.

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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