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 July 9th

Berry, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
7567
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home in Wexford. The cause of death was Phthisis.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Johanna Berry née Connors. Husband of Katie Berry née Goggin, Mary's Lane, Gibson St., Wexford

Caulfield, Robert

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
371737
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
London Regiment
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Caulfield nee Browne of Lady Lane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Cleary, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Gelli Rhondda, Glam
Service No.
25457
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Johanna Roche of Kingsford, Barntown, Wexford., Son of William and Mary Coady née Connolly. The 1901 Census shows John Coady, b Ireland, aged 23, boarding at 17 Deron Street, Glasgow.

Fitzpatrick, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Askamore
Service No.
77557
Rank
Driver
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Jeremiah and Kate Fitzpatrick nee Nolan on Ballinaclea, Co. Wicklow

Valentine, Robert

Date of Birth
Service No.
J.34061
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Vanguard
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action
Other Biographical Details
The son of Albert and Rebecca Valentine née Montague. Mother: Rebecca: 16 Alglesea Road, Donnybrook, Dublin. the son of Albert and Rebecca Valentine née Montague. His father, born in Co. Wexford, was a labourer. His sister Sophia Rebecca was born at Templeowen, Co. Carlow, 15.1.1898. The 1901 Census shows them at Gorey Corporation Lands. The 1911 Census shows the family at Hatch Lane, Dublin. His father was then a chauffeur.

Born on July 9th

Berry, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
3049.T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Torpedo Boat 4
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action: Killed in explosion aboard HM Torpedo Boat 4 in Ramsgate, Kent which also killed 13 other crew.
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Mary Ellen, Bride Street, Wexford. Son of Patrick Berry and Mary Berry nee Sullivan, Bride Street, Wexford. His father was a labourer. 1901 Census shows his widowed mother at 28 Bride Street, Wexford. Children were James (19), Annie (16) and Michael (14). Formerly served as S/990.

Comerton, James

Date of Birth
Alias
James Comerford
Address
Wygram Place, Wexford
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Antinoe (London)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by a German Submarine 150 miles off Bishop Rock.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Mary Comerford née Mansfield. Changed his name to Comerton when he married Julia O'Connor in 1907. But in the 1911 Census she used the name Comerford. - Julia Comerton of Wygram Place, Wexford.

Sample Records

Ennis, James

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
7470
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Margaret Ennis nee Handley of 6 Upper King Street, Wexford. 

Fitzhenry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
John's Gate Street, Wexford
Service No.
7110
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned at Interlaken, Switzerland
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Annie Fitzhenry.  His mother was later Annie Carty of 3 John's Gate Street, Wexford. Member of the Irish National Volunteers. Severely wounded (shrapnel left leg, arm and side) and taken prisoner 2 July 1916. He was interned in Switzerland prior to a planned repatriation.

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.

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