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 7th

Berney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
12418
Rank
Acting Corporal
Regiment
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Gallipoli, Killed in Action during days of evacuation from Cape Helles in December/January 1915-16
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Eliza Berney née Meyler.

Harte, Martin

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford
Service No.
3994
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of pneumonia while a prisoner of war in Germany
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Harte, H.M. Customs, and Eliza nee Lacey, South Main Street, Wexford.

Born on January 7th

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)

Holbrook, Patrick Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford
Service No.
1042
Rank
Private
Regiment
12th Lancers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of John and Mary Holbrook née Duggan, South Main Street, Wexford. Brother of Very Reverend Henry Holbrook, Chancellor of the Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand.

Sample Records

Elmes, King

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
attached 2nd/16th Battalion London Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Mary Elmes née Robinson of Robinstown House, Palace East, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 

Forde, Frank

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
26437
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back to the trenches for medical attention.
Other Biographical Details

Born John Francis, son of John and Margaret Forde nee Rourke.  His father, born in Co. Galway, was a constable in the RIC and later an insurance agent. His mother was born in Co. Wexford. Later resided at Patrick Square, Wexford.
A clerical worker in the Pierce Ironworks Foundry in Wexford, Frank joined up aged 16. In early August 1916, he arrived in France and fought at the Battle of the Somme. However, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday, Frank was grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back from the trenches for medical attention. His platoon commander, Lieutenant A.W. Henchy wrote to Frank's parents and called him 'a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud'. Frank was buried in Trachee de Mecknes Cemetary in the Pas de Calais in France. In his military will, he left everything he possessed to his mother.

Whitford, Myles

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary E. Whitford nee Donohoe of Enniscorthy.

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