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.

Born on February 13th

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

Kehoe, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
287130
Rank
Leading Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defence 1907
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship's magazine exploded when hit by a German shell during the Battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Catherine Kehoe nee Burnell of Oldhall, Bridgetown, Wexford. 

Sheridan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyrorey, Co.Wexford.
Service No.
7185
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr and Mrs Sheridan of Coolboy, Tinahely, Co.Wicklow. In his will he left everything to his mother Mrs Ellen Byrne, Coolboy, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow. Coolboy is just inside the Wexford boundary. Patrick was living in Ballyrorey, County Wexford at the time of his death. Commemorated on panel 33, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belguim. 

White, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/215423
Rank
Sapper
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds received 10.8.1917 at 5th Northern General Hospital, Leicester, 16.11.1918
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Margaret Whelan née Walsh.

Sample Records

Canavan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey
Service No.
5872
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Charles and Margaret Canavan née Smith. His father was a Metropolitan police Office. He lived Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey with his uncle James Canavan. He was a Gaelic Leaguer and all Ireland Hornpipe champion in 1906 at the Wexford Feis and again the following year in Wicklow. Buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy , France.

Whelan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Rathaspick, Co. Wexford
Service No.
8917
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the battle of Le Pilly on October 19, 1914. His body was never recovered but his name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial in the Pas de Calais region of northern France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Whelan, a labourer and Elizabeth née Carroll. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais.

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