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 November 14th

Mcdonald, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballinagran, Courtown Harbour, Gorey
Service No.
76647
Rank
Driver
Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by shell fire, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Article in a Wexford newspaper. Son of John and Bridget McDonald née Sheehan.

Born on November 14th

Devereux, Patrick John

Date of Birth
Address
Moved to New Zealand with parents in 1910
Service No.
Dec-72
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Auckland Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of James T and Jane Devereaux of Glenbrook, Waiku, Aukland. Grandson to Mr John Buttle, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy

Sample Records

White, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
177 The Faythe, Wexford.
Service No.
9511
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Nicholas and Mary Ann White née Doyle. Mother widowed in 1903, returned to Wexford and remarried to Michael Kavanagh, The Faythe (and later of Byrnes Lane). Effects to his mother. Lived with his mother and step-father in the Faythe and worked as a Messenger Boy aged 13 in 1911.

Carthy, John

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. high forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Alias
Carty
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
18047
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Grave Reference: Special memorial A.1. Cemetery - twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey. He signs himself Carthy in correspondence.

Fitzgerald, Gerald Hugh

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lord and Lady Maurice Fitzgerald of Johnstown Castle, Wexford. Husband of Dorothy Fitzgerald nee Charrington. First Wexford man to die in the War.

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