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 February 26th

Colfer, James Richard

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Redmond Colfer and Martha Colfer of New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Finn, William

Date of Birth
Address
Fethard
Service No.
4666
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Army Ordnance Corp
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Tooting Military Hospital
Other Biographical Details

Son of Matthew and Henrietta Finn nee Reville of Fethard, Co.Wexford

Knox, James

Service No.
24713
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of George W. and Brigid Knox of Rosario, Ballyfermot, Chapelizod, Dublin.

Sinnott, Michael Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Cahore, Gorey
Rank
Wireless Operator
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
HMS Glenart Castle
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by German Submarine. She was heading for Brest to load wounded.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Julia Anne Sinnott of Cahore, Gorey and the late Peter Sinnott. Son of Peter and Julia Anne Sinnott née Doran

Sample Records

Ryan, James

Date of Birth
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in France, railway accident
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Ryan nee Roche of Raheen, Strahart, Ferns. Formerly he was 64994 Constable in the RIC. He had been wounded six times. He was a contributor to both home and foreign magazines, being a poet of a high order.

Sikes, Richard Herbert

Posed studio photo of a young Richard Sikes taken prior to enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
2 Park View, Wellington Road, Cork
Rank
Sub Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Howe Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the Western Front
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Cherry Sikes and Susanna Lecky Sikes 2 Parkview Wellington Rd. Cork. In 1914 he joined the Royal Fusiliers and spent a winter in the trenches.  He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was in command of a company in the Howe Battalion. Sub Lieutenant Richard Herbert Sikes is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France and the War Memorial in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork. Buried at Bay 1. Arras Memorial, Department du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Cullimore, George Henry

Posed photograph of a young George taken before enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
London
Service No.
20505
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Egypt.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Albert and Elizabeth Teresa Cullimore née Harpur of Clarence House, Wexford. Grandson of Moses Harpur, 57 South Main Street, Wexford. Formerly enlisted in Royal Innisskilling Fusiliers and no. 5101, 1st & 2nd Batt 8th London Regiment. Brother of Joseph Albert Cullimore.

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