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 August 28th

Doyle, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Courtown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
8074
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at 21st Stationary Hospital, Salonika
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Eliza Doyle nee Kenna, 4 Grattan Terrace, Gorey. Brother of Margaret Doyle of 45 Upper Main Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Other siblings Edward and James

Hoysted, Francis Reginald

Date of Birth
Service No.
5/382
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details
Son of Fredick Robert And Anne Sophia Hoysted nee Hallam. Grandson of the late Canon Hallam, Camolin, Co. Wexford.

Roche, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Francis Street, Wexford.
Service No.
16490
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli. (Suvla Bay Landing)
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Roche of Francis Street, Wexford.
Brother of Private William Roche No.5767. 
Memorial/Buried: Green Hill Cemetery in Turkey.

Walker, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
63380
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
2/4th
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Walker née Loughlin. Husband of Mary née Brown. 

Born on August 28th

Fitzpatrick, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
75746
Rank
Private
Regiment
Northumberland Fusiliers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders while a POW, aged 30.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Mary Fitzpatrick née Foley. Sole legatee was his aunt Mrs Mary B. Farrell, Glasgow.

Sample Records

Brehon, Richard Colles

Date of Birth
Address
14 Newtown or Commons, New Ross
Service No.
114383
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Mounted Rifles
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ypres (Ieper), Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders. Killed at the Battle of Mont Sorrel (Battle of Hill 62, 2 to 13 June 1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Colles and Anne Brehon, listed in 1901 Census in New Ross, Co. Wexford, as a gentleman farmer and a member of the Irish Church.

Brien, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
Lightwater, Kilmore, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
5493
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle Le Pilly.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth Brien née Walsh. A career soldier. On death his effects and monies due were divided among his four siblings, brothers Thomas and John O'Brien and sisters Elizabeth McKee & Mary Wills. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais. 

Buttle, Albert Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Annie Buttle of Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. His father, John was Director of Messrs. Buttle Bros & Co. Ltd, Bacon Curers and Merchants. Albert was educated in Newtown School, Waterford and Model School, Enniscorthy. Enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st April 1915. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Bn. Took part in the Battles of the Somme in July 1916 and was invalided home in January 1917. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 1917. Was offered a medical discharge being medically unfit, but volunteered again and rejoined his regiment in France on 29th May 1918. A casualty of the Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 Sept – 2 Oct 1918). Buried in Haringhe Military Cemetery.

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