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.

About

The Records

About

Contact Us

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 March 12th

Coy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
J.4768
Rank
Leading Telegraphist
Regiment
Royal Navy
HM Submarine E49
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. HM Submarine E49 was mined off the Shetland Islands on 12th March 1917. The minefield was laid by the German U-boat UC-76 on 10th March 1917. There were no survivors.
Other Biographical Details
Mother: Mary, West House, Henry Street, Galway. Parents: Hugh Coy and Mary Willcox. His father was a master wheelright and carpenter. Both parents were born in England. The 1901 Census shows the family at 2 Paul Quay, Wexford. Children were Henry (23), Elizabeth (19), Frederick (17), Alice (15), George (14), Albert (12), Lucy (11), Charles (9), Thomas (8), Florence (6), Gertrude (4), Edith (3) and Mabel (1).

Saunders, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
1441
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Brother of Mr Robert Saunders of 6 Lunt Road, Bootle, Liverpool. Son of John and Annie Saunders née White. Their son Robert was born 15.12.1878.

Born on March 12th

Breen, John Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford.
Service No.
7288
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Ypres Salient, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Moses & Annie Breen née Doyle of Birkenhead, Liverpool. Brother of Joseph Breen (4660).

Valentine, Robert

Date of Birth
Service No.
J.34061
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Vanguard
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action
Other Biographical Details
The son of Albert and Rebecca Valentine née Montague. Mother: Rebecca: 16 Alglesea Road, Donnybrook, Dublin. the son of Albert and Rebecca Valentine née Montague. His father, born in Co. Wexford, was a labourer. His sister Sophia Rebecca was born at Templeowen, Co. Carlow, 15.1.1898. The 1901 Census shows them at Gorey Corporation Lands. The 1911 Census shows the family at Hatch Lane, Dublin. His father was then a chauffeur.

Sample Records

Anderson, James

Date of Birth
Address
3 Trinity Place, Wexford.
Service No.
5624
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds Battle of the Rivers, at Aisne, October 1914, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Ellen Anderson of 3 Trinity Place, Wexford. Fifteen years service, fought in the second South African campaign. Buried in the Canadian Cemetery No.2 Neuville-St. Vaast, france

Nolan, James

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of James Nolan prior to enlisting aged 20. Freshfaced, short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with narrow knotted tie and a lighted coloured relaxed jacket.
Date of Birth
Address
Ballinamona, Ballycanew, Gorey.
Service No.
8225
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action during the Battle of San Quentin at The Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Nolan née Duffy of Ballinamona, Ballycanew. (Twin brother of Peter.) Formally with the Royal Irish Regiment Service number 5161. 
Decorated in 1917 and awarded the Military Medal, for bravery in battle on land.  He was listed in the London Gazette on 18th July 1917. Memorialised on Panel 90-93 the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France.

Carty, John

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
1656S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Monmouth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. Monmouth wa sunk in a Naval action in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile, South America
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr. Philip Carty of Trinity Street, Wexford.

Explore the Records