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 15th

Browne, Martin

Date of Birth
Rank
Mate
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SV Mary Fanny
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick & Mary Browne née Staunton, Brogue Lane New Ross. his father was a shoemaker. On September 15th, 1918, Mary Fanny, a British sailing vessel of 94 tons, was sunk by the German submarine UB-64 (Ernst Krieger), 14 miles ESE from the Codling Bank https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?157146 Ship was sunk north of Wexford coastline. 

Browne, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
S/341
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Rifle Brigade
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette (15–22 September 1916), France, during the First Battle of the Somme.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Mary Browne née Byrne. 

John Michael Grogan

Date of Birth
Service No.
9444
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

He was 61629 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1912 and served in Gorey. Son of 7663 Constable William Grogan, Dublin Metropolitan Police, and Bridget nee Ryder. His brother Christopher, 5 Parnell Street, Dublin, was sole legatee. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

O’Connor, James

Address
Killeens, Wexford
Service No.
6845
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Martin and Mary O'Connor of 6 Upper King Street, Wexford. Husband of Mary O'Connor of Killeens, Wexford. Enniscorthy Guardian article April 1915.

O’Connor, Michael

Service No.
4839
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Sister Margaret E.
Buried Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France.

Reville, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Hill Street, Wexford
Service No.
6736
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the Somme, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Reville of Mary Street, Wexford. Husband of Mrs Mary Reville of Patrick Square, Wexford. He had two brother also serving in the Army.

Toole, Edward Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Curracloe House, Wexford.
Service No.
1952
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
31st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Courevlette, The Somme in the vicinity of Pozieres
Other Biographical Details

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe. 

Family Background: According to the memorial article for Edward, in Du Rivigny’s United Kingdom Roll of Honour 1914-1919, the Toole children were descended from families who had some wealth and held positions of regard in their professions and within their communities. William John Toole, their father was both a land owner and land agent. The name of their home was Curracloe House. William’s father, Captain William O’Toole of the 40th British Regiment, served with distinction throughout his life. Their mother, Magdalene Thompson, was the daughter of William Thompson, a surgeon, who practiced in the army hospital in Madras, India, the city in which  Magdalene was born in 1845.

Family Life:  Edward Thomas Toole (nickname Ned) was born April 1, 1885 in Curracloe, Wexford, Ireland.  He was one of 13 known children of William and Magdalene, all born in Country Wexford: William (1871-1952, nickname Barney);  Isabella (1872-1919); Catherine (1873-1955); George Archer (1874-1957); Mary   (1876- ); Annie (1877-); Magdalene (1878-1940); Laurence Henry (1879-1967); Henrietta (1880-1968); Victoria (1881-1963); Archer John (1883 -1963); and, David Frederick Jack (1886-1918).

The Toole family is recorded in Wexford until at least 1888, when William lost his fortune in an investment in which beach land was being developed into farmland. The land was destroyed in a storm leaving the Tooles in financial stress (referenced by Toole-Peet history).

3 other brothers also served with the Canadian Forces. Captain Jack Toole killed in action France. 28.09.1918.   Death and Remembrance: Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole was killed in action on September 15, 1916, the first day of action of the Battle of Fleurs-Courcelette during the campaign in the Somme. His name is recorded on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.  He has no burial site.

Whelan, Peter

Date of Birth
Service No.
6965
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Ann Whelan née Kennedy. The 1911 Census shows them at 20 Parnell Street, Wexford. Son of Mr. J. and Mrs M.R. Whelan of 38 Parnell Street, Wexford.

Born on September 15th

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

McDonald, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Woodville Terrace, Clonmel
Rank
Quartermaster
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home after short illness.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Matthew and Catherine McDonald nee Cogley. Husband of Mary McDonald, 31 Woodville Terrace, Clonmel. Career Solider 22 years. Served in India.

Payne, Henry

Date of Birth
Address
19 Bullawn, New Ross
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Emlyndene (Cardiff)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS Emlyndene disappeared without trace while transporting coal from Cardiff, is supposed she was sunk by German Submarine UC-50
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Elizabeth Payne nee Fanning of 19 Bullawn, New Ross. Son of Henry and Mary Payne née Bryan

Potts, James

Date of Birth
Address
33 Upper John Street, Wexford
Rank
Boatswain
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Woolston (London)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine UC-52 while on voyage from Syracuse to Messina with a cargo of sulphur.
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Catherine Potts née Brien of 33 John Street, Wexford

Sample Records

Quirke, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Blackwater, Co.Wexford.
Service No.
9822
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the battle of Hooge, Ypres France on Easter Sunday.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Dora Quirk of Ballinahask, Kilmuckridge, Gorey. Remembered on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

Symes, Thomas Arthur

Date of Birth
Address
Cross Patrick, Tinehely, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
14228
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Dysentry at the Austrailian Hospital, Mudros, Greece.
Other Biographical Details

Seventh Son of Sandham John and Catherine Chamney Symes nee Swan of 'Hill View', Tinahely, Co.Wicklow. Educated privately Thomas was a bank clerk with Bank of Ireland. Buried in Portianos Military Cemetery, Greece. (Grave: I B 37)

Sweetman, Michael James Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Samberton Park, Richmond, Limerick.
Service No.
9980
Rank
Major
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds - Ctesiphon, Bagdad, Iraq
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael James and Margaret Sweetman nee Powell, Lamberton Park, Queens County.  Educated - Downside, London University, Sandhurst
Retired - prior to WWI. In 1914 he Returned to the colors (Worcestershire Regt.)
1914 - Wounded and M.I.D. in Flanders at Polygon Wood in October and was awarded 1914 Star and Bar, Victory Medal.
Attached - 2nd Dorset Regt for Persian Gulf Expedition (2ND in command)
Became Commanding Officer of 2nd Dorsetshire when Major, Acting Lt.Col. Radcliffe was wounded.
Led successful attacks on Turkish Redoubts during Battle of Ctesiphon. He was Mortally wounded during Battle when he was shot in the groin while leading his men at Ctesiphon.  Despite his injury he stayed with them.  He was evacuated after the battle on a hospital ship on the Tigris but died 3 days later before they reached Kut.
He is the 2nd Oldest person buried at Kut War Cemetary.

Major Sweetman had three sisters, all published authors (2 novelists and a Poet). His brother-in-law was Egerton Castle... author, swordsmen, captain of the epee and saber team at the 1908 Olympics. His uncle was John Sweetman was one of the founders of and 2nd President of Sinn Fein.

The Sweetman family were brewers but sold their brewery to Guinness in 1893.

He was put up for the D.S.O. three times.  All were downgraded to M.I.D. Buried Grave L9, Kut War Cemetery, Iraq.

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