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 February 14th

Brady, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
16881
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds to the abdomen caused by an aerial bomb. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James & Ellen Brady nee Grannel of Churchtown, Kilrane. Husband of Ellen Brady née White of Butlerstown, Broadway. Living relatives at the time of his death. were his wife Ellen, son John and daughter Bun. However, all effects, etc were sent to Miss Margaret Broughan, Tallyho, Tinahealy, Co. Wicklow. Died from wounds to the abdomen caused by an aerial bomb France and Flanders.

Lacy, Patrick

Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8845
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 John and Johanna Lacy of 9 Duffry Street, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford. 

Lacy/Leacy, Patrick

Alias
Leacy
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8845
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Johanna Lacy of 9 Duffry Street, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford. Article in the Echo.

Born on February 14th

Roberts, William

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
10532
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Mentioned in Dispatches. Son of John and Anne Roberts of Wells, Gorey. One of the three brothers who served. Memorial: Panel 33, Ypres (Menin Gate), Belgium.

Sample Records

Roche, James

Date of Birth
Address
15 College Road North, Blundell Sands, Liverpool
Service No.
6701
Rank
Private
Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Agnes Roche nee Rowe, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford. Sole legatee was his sister Mary Kate Roche, 67 Empire Road, Liverpool. Other siblings were Walter, Richard, Patrick, and Ellen.

Taylor, Godfrey Lovelace

Date of Birth
Address
Grangville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Fleet Surgeon
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Formidable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Sunk by two German torpedoes fired by Submarine U-24 on New Year's Day 38 miles off the Devon Coast.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Godfrey Lovelace Taylor and Dorothea Marie Taylor nee Bruun of Grangeville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.

Bolger, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
49878
Rank
Private
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Bolger née Murphy.
His father, John Bolger (2320D) of the HMS Grafton, died as a direct result of enemy action off Suvla, Galipoli, 12th August 1915.

Explore the Records