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 August 21st

Barker, Philip

Date of Birth
Service No.
11493
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds - at the Battle of Albert, France 21-23 August 1914
Other Biographical Details

Son of Aidan and Mrs Elizabeth Barker née Neill of Duke Street, Wexford.

Boyce, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Rowe St and Abbey St, Wexford.
Service No.
12060
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, killed in Action. Killed on the first day of the Ludendorff/ German Spring Offensive.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph & Mary Boyce née Withers, 16 Abbey St, Wexford. 

Connors, Michael

Address
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
Service No.
6807
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
His father Thomas was residing at Bride Street, Wexford

Nolan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
5 Edward's Lane, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
4806
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Patrick and Bridget Nolan née Byrne of 5 Mernagh Street, (Edward's Lane) Enniscorthy. Memorialised on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial (France).

Rossiter, Laurence

Address
20 Hook Street, Liverpool
Rank
Fireman and Trimmer
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Oslo (Hull)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by an explosion on board ship.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mary and the late Nicholas Rossiter of John Street, Wexford. Husband of Elizabeth Rossiter of 20 Hook Street, Liverpool. Article in a Wexford newspaper. Survivor of the ill-fated Lusitania ship.

Sample Records

Murray, Cecil William

Black and White head and shoulder shot civilian collar and tie.
Date of Birth
Service No.
14125
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Daniel and Arabella Jane Murray née Corvan, 14 Harrington Street, Dublin.

Merriman, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in uniform, seated.
Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
3183
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Gallipolli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Merriman nee Murphy of 52 Faythe Street, Wexford. 

Peare, Hilda Florence Letitia Anna

Date of Birth
Address
Killmallock House, Enniscorthy
Rank
Unknown
Regiment
Voluntary Aid Detachment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
At the Military Hospital, Seymour Park, Manchester. Severe attack of Scarlatina (Scarlet Fever) contracted while she was nursing the sick and wounded of the fighting forces
Other Biographical Details

Daughter of Robert Hawtry and Alice Maud Peare née Sutherland, Kilmallock House, Enniscorthy. Estimated year of birth: 1894

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