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 March 3rd

Bolger, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
8816
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Kate Bolger née Murphy, Shannon, Enniscorthy. Son of James & Catherine Bolger, 7 Mernagh St., Enniscorthy. Killed just before the battle of St. Eloi, France. Remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.

Breen, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
43105
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick & Mary Breen of Clonamona, Craanford, Gorey, Co Wexford. No available information on why Breen might have been killed, but is buried/commemorated in the Somme area.

Tweedy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Portersgate, Fethard.
Rank
Second Mate
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Northfield (London)
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of the late George and Ellen Tweedy née White. Husband of Kate Tweedy née McGuinness of Portersgate, Fethard.

Born on March 3rd

Cosgrave, James

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
9598
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Johanna Cosgrove née Murphy of Killisk, Ballagh, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Sample Records

Leigh, Edward

Head and shoulders portrait from press cutting.
Date of Birth
Address
Rosegarland, Co. Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action whilst in command of the battalion near Krithia, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Francis Augustine Leigh, J.P., D.L., formerly 10th Hussars and Mrs Augustine Leigh née Perrier of Rosegarland, Co. Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin. Husband of Mary Meade Leigh, only daughter of Sir John Buchanan, L.L.D., of Clareinch, Claremont, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Served in the South African Campaign and in India, Malta and the British West Indies. He left one son, Edward Buchanan Leigh, born at Vacoas, Mauritius on the 19th June, 1913.

Awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and King's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Fitzhenry, James

Date of Birth
Address
Fair Gate, New Ross
Service No.
13140
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
C Battery, 62nd Brigade
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Mary Fitzhenry nee Forrestal of Fair Gate, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Beatty, Charles Harold Longfield

Date of Birth
Address
Borodale, Enniscorthy
Rank
Major
Regiment
Special Lists
Staff
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died Undergoing Surgery, Atherstone, England on 17th May 1917, aged 47.
Other Biographical Details

Eldest son of the late Captain David Longfield and Catherina Edith Beatty [nee Chaine], of Oakfield, Atherstone.  Husband of Lucy Alice Beatty, born c1869 at Western Port, Australia. ADC to General Sir Edwin Alderson, Commander of Canadian Expeditionary Force and attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Older brother of  Admiral of the Fleet David Earl Beatty, P.C., G.C.B. and brother of Captain Richard George Beatty.  https://www.nnwfhs.org.uk/catch-all/first-world-war-centenary-2/men-of-ww1-members-detailed-pages/1355-maj-chl-beatty

 

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