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 27th

Legge, John Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Andover, Hants
Service No.
5774
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Glamorganshire County Aslyum while in service.
Other Biographical Details
Son of the late John and Margeret Legge nee Stafford. His father was a RIC sub constable. Husband of Edith Annie Legge of Bridge House, Upper Clatford, Andover, Hants.buired in Bridgeend Cemetery.

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.

Born on November 27th

Cullen, John Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
20453
Rank
Private
Regiment
Grenadier Guards
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Margaret Cullen nee Quigley of Ballybrize Cottage, Campile, Co. Wexford.

Sample Records

Breen, James

Date of Birth
Alias
Brien
Address
Ross Road, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
5387
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in France during The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915)
Other Biographical Details

The son of the late James, and Margaret Breen née Habernathy, of 66 Ross Road, Enniscorthy. Brother of Thomas Breen (4370). Prior to enlisting on the 18th September 1914, James was employed as a shop assistant at Mr. W.K. Stamp's, Market Square, Enniscorthy. 2nd Division, in which Breen's battalion was serving, lost over 5,000 men.

Fitzhenry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
John's Gate Street, Wexford
Service No.
7110
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned at Interlaken, Switzerland
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Annie Fitzhenry.  His mother was later Annie Carty of 3 John's Gate Street, Wexford. Member of the Irish National Volunteers. Severely wounded (shrapnel left leg, arm and side) and taken prisoner 2 July 1916. He was interned in Switzerland prior to a planned repatriation.

Rennison, Walter Martyn

Date of Birth
Address
The Rectory, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of the Revd Chancellor Henry Rennison and Mrs Kate Louisa Rennison née Palmer of The Rectory, Wexford.  Formally a medical student in Trinity College, Dublin prior to enlistment.

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