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 October 15th

Colfer, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Duncormick
Service No.
8166
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Mary Colfer nee McDaniel, Duncormick, Co. Wexford.

Fitzgerald, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Ballycanew
Service No.
939
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Margaret Fitzgerald nee Jones, Ballycanew.

Furlong, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Mary Street, New Ross
Service No.
4468
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from enteritis while a POW in Germany
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edmund and Ellen Furlong née Flynn. Taken prisoner 20 October 1914 and sent to Limburg and Giessen, Germany.

Noblett, John

Date of Birth
Address
Newtownbarry, Co.Wexford
Service No.
29059
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Auckland Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mrs. E. J. Noblett of 3 Malvern Road, Bootle, Liverpool, England.

Quinlisk, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
15 Lombard Street, Waterford
Service No.
10747
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Denis Joseph and Alice Quinlisk née Doyle, Lady Lane, Waterford. Of 15 Lombard Street, Waterford.

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.

Redmond, William Hoey Kearney

Date of Birth
Alias
Willie Redmond.
Address
Glenbrook, Delgany, Co.Wicklow and Palace Manshions, Kensington, London.
Rank
Major
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wound received in an attack at Wytschaete Wood in Belgium after being injured by a shell.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Eleanor Redmond. Nationalist Member of Parliament for Wexford since 1884. Awarded the Legion of Honour (France). One of the rare people to be buried abroad during WW1 in a coffin. Son of William Archer and Mary Redmond née Hoey. Younger brother of John E. Redmond MP and Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Rossiter, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
3095A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Hampshire
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Rossiter of William Street, Wexford.

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