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 16th

Batterton, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
48624
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action. Buried near Ypres
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Lydia Batterton née Rickerby. Son of William Batterton, 57 Irish Street, Enniscorthy.

Bradley, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Newbawn, Co Wexford.
Service No.
6941
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Jane Bradley née Wallace. Killed in France during period between The Battle of Drocourt-Queant (2-3 September 1918), and The Battle of the Canal du Nord (27 September – 1 October 1918) in which 2nd Royal Irish, serving in 63rd Royal Naval Division, took part.

Born on September 16th

Higgins, Edward

Date of Birth
Service No.
13774
Rank
Private
Regiment
South African Infantry
3rd Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Maggie Higgins nee Sinnott, of Maudlintown, Wexford. Husband of Matilda Elizabeth Ellen Higgins of 42 Wolhunter Road, Jeppestown, Transvaal, South Africa.

Sample Records

Toole, David Frederick Jack

Date of Birth
Alias
Jack
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
49th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

 

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

Brother of Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole died 15.09.1916.

Buried: Ontario Cemetery, Sains-les-Marquion, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Liebermann, Frederick Victor

Date of Birth
Service No.
8197
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Australian Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Mutilation Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of Adolf and Anna Eliza Liebermann née Farrell of 33 Russell Street, Camberwell, Melbourne. His father was a professor of languages Brother of Gertrude Ellen Lieberman of Broadway, Camberwell, Victoria.

Kane, John Francis Aloysius

Date of Birth
Address
Saunderscourt, Wexford
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed while flying at Brooklands, London
Other Biographical Details

Third son of John and Mary Kane nee O'Connor, formerly of Saunderscourt, Wexford. Brother Robert Henry.

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