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 July 31st

Chichester, Richard Cecil Fredrick

Date of Birth
Address
Dunbrody Park, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Captain (Hon)
Regiment
Serbian Army
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Skoplje, Serbia. Typhoid Ferver
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lord Arthur Henry [Chichester], 3rd Baron Templemore & Lady Alice Elizabeth Dawkins Templemore, Arthurtown, Co. Wexford. Sheriff of Co. Wexford 1890

Dooley, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
66298
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Margaret Dooley nee Meade, Camross. Married Margaret Devereux 1914. Father of Peter Dooley, born 1914, of Cottage Row, Taghmon, Co. Wexford.

Dunne, Thomas

Service No.
9506
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Winifred Dunne nee Codd of John Street, Enniscorthy.

Fanning, William

Address
Ballymoney
Service No.
10868
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Born 1896, son of Edward and Bridget Fanning nee Graham, Ballymoney

Howlett, Martin

Date of Birth
Address
Grange, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
9142
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Flanders during the Third Battle of Ypres
Other Biographical Details

 

Son of Martin and Catherine Howlett (née Murphy) , of Grange, (Ballyhack),  Campile, Co. Wexford. Martin worked as a farm labourer until enlisting in 1915.

Robert Devereux

Date of Birth
Alias
Alexander Howie
Address
6 Patrick Place, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
43210
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
72nd Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Susan Devereux nee Farrell. His father, a labourer, died from tuberculosis 21/12/1901.

His mother married Peter Walsh 10/10/1906. Robert enlisted at Dublin under the alias Alexander Howie as 9468 in 1st Leinster Regiment, stating that he was born in Dublin. He went to France 19/12/1914 and was later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.

Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

 

Roberts, John

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhaddock, Ferns
Service No.
20352
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Ellen Roberts of Ballyhaddock, Ferns.

Sample Records

Reville, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
2410B
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Laurentic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Laurentic ship was sunk off the Irish coast, hit a mine at Fanad Head en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mrs Teresa Reville nee Butler of The Faythe, Wexford. His father was a shoemaker. His brothers Matthew, Nicholas and Joseph also served with the Royal Navy during the war.

Leach, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
K/11874
Rank
Petty Officer Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Rocket
Medals
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.

Doyle, Jeremiah

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
22839
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Maria Doyle.

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