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 January 24th

Newsom, William Henry

Date of Birth
Address
7 John Street, Enniscorthy
Service No.
80213
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
13th Hussars
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Influenza
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Bridget Newsom of 7 John Street, Enniscorthy.

Born on January 24th

Cheevers, Matthew

Date of Birth
Alias
Mattie
Address
Campile, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
14211
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
12th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Cheevers née Hanlon of Horeswood, Campile, Co. Wexford.

Donovan, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
2646
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Edward and Kate Donovan née Quigley. Widow Florence E. O'Donovan.

Sample Records

White, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
177 The Faythe, Wexford.
Service No.
9511
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Nicholas and Mary Ann White née Doyle. Mother widowed in 1903, returned to Wexford and remarried to Michael Kavanagh, The Faythe (and later of Byrnes Lane). Effects to his mother. Lived with his mother and step-father in the Faythe and worked as a Messenger Boy aged 13 in 1911.

Bartholomew McCarthy

Date of Birth
Alias
Bartle
Address
45 Lambe Street, Liverpool
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lusitania (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Lusitania sunk by German submarine U-20 of the coast of Cobh, Co. Cork
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Bridget (née White)

Liebermann, Frederick Victor

Date of Birth
Service No.
8197
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Australian Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Mutilation Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of Adolf and Anna Eliza Liebermann née Farrell of 33 Russell Street, Camberwell, Melbourne. His father was a professor of languages Brother of Gertrude Ellen Lieberman of Broadway, Camberwell, Victoria.

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