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 31st

Cromie, Francis Newton Allen

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Navy
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Murdered at Petrograd, Russia by Bolshevist soldiers
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Capt. F.C. Cromie, Hampshire Regt. And of Mrs Lennard. Husband of Mrs Cromie of 9 Old Park Road, Clapham Common, London. Article in the People 1918.Son of Lieutenant Charles Francis and Mary Grace Josephine Cromie nee Webb-Bowen. Married Gladys nee Cromie in 1907.

Murphy, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Abbey Street, Wexford
Service No.
4317A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Orbita
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned on the East coast of Africa.
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Kate Murphy of Wexford. Husband of Mary Kate Murphy of Abbey Street, Wexford. Article in The People 1915

Born on August 31st

Breslin, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Broadway.
Service No.
1884
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders. Killed in the Somme sector during the Battle of Guillemont (3-6 September 1916), in the First Battle of the Somme .
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick Edward and Ellen Breslin née Doyle. His father was a painter. No claim made on his army estate. The 1911 Census shows him boarding at Eardownes, Broadway.

Byrne, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
6699
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in the Ploegsteert Wood sector in Flanders, part of the Ypres Salient.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Bridget Byrne nee Flaherty.

Reck, David J

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
129410
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
"M" Coy. 3rd Spec. Bn.
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France, possibly gas.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence a shoemaker and Bridget Reck (née Grahaim) of Killisk, The Ballagh, Enniscorthy.  Buried at ECOIVRES MILITARY CEMETERY, MONT-ST. ELOI, Pas de Calais, France. David was born a twin. (Brother Sylvester died young.)

'Special Battalions' or 'Special Companies' of the Royal Engineers handled gas canisters for gas warfare - may have died of exposure to gas.

Sample Records

Breen, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
4370
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Wounded while fighting in the Dardanellas. Died at Sea on hospital ship enroute to Malta
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Margaret Breen née Habernathy of 66 Ross Rd, Enniscorthy. Brother of James Breen (4387) Irish Guards, 1st Battalion, who was killed less than fours months earlier in France during The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915. Husband of Margaret Breen née Nolan of 4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy. Thomas left a window and two children. Remembered on Panel 158 - 170, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

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.

Dowse, William Arthur Clarence

Date of Birth
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action, Somme, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Dr. Thomas James and Katherine Elizabeth Dowse nee Trouton of 14 Lower George Street, Wexford. 

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