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 1st

Leary, James

Date of Birth
Alias
O'Leary, James
Address
Castle Hill Street, Wexford
Service No.
310039
Rank
Stoker 1st Class
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Formidable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
At sea. Torpedoed in the English Channel
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and the late Elizabeth Leary of Castle (Hill) Street, Wexford. Had previously assisted in rescuing the survivors of HMS Bulwark in Sheerness Harbour.

Taylor, Godfrey Lovelace

Date of Birth
Address
Grangville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Fleet Surgeon
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Formidable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Sunk by two German torpedoes fired by Submarine U-24 on New Year's Day 38 miles off the Devon Coast.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Godfrey Lovelace Taylor and Dorothea Marie Taylor nee Bruun of Grangeville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.

Born on January 1st

Anderson, Hans

Date of Birth
Address
High Hill, New Ross and later at 10 Olaf Street, Waterford.
Service No.
40273
Rank
Private
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
20th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Somme campaign
Other Biographical Details

Mother Bridget, brother John
Anderson was formally with the Lancaster Fusiliers (No. 4320). The 20th Bn,  Manchester Regiment  were involved in fighting in the Somme sector during the time of Anderson's death. Buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), France.

Beatty, Richard George

Date of Birth
Address
Borodale, Enniscorthy.
Rank
Captain
Regiment
1st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed on the Northwest Frontier in India.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Captain David Longfield, Commander of the General Fleet, and Catherina Edith Beatty [nee Chaine]. Husband of Florence Mary Beatty, of Hove, E. Sussex. Served in the South African War. Youngest brother of Admiral of the Fleet David Earl Beatty, P.C., G.C.B. Brother of Charles Harold Longfield Beatty D.S.O. 

Berry, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Sandy Cove, Kingstown, Co. Dublin
Service No.
16990
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Btn.
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Mary Berry. Husband of Ellen Berry nee Donohue. 
Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium.

Berry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Tullow, Co.Carlow
Service No.
7253
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Margaret Jordan (Formally Berry). Eleven years service before been drafted to Flanders. Had been stationed in India. reported missing after the Battle of Mons. Commemorated on Panel 11 and 12, Le Touret Memorial, France. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Basse.

Boland, James

Date of Birth
Address
Treforest, Glam
Service No.
34767
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action, Battle of Mametz Wood, Battle of the Somme
Other Biographical Details

Mother Mary at Ballyleigh, New Ross.

Bolger, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
3/8670 and 8670
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Palestine, Killed in Action during the period of the Battle of Tell 'Asur (8th-12th March 1918)
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick Bolger,  11 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy. Husband of Annie Bolger née Cummins of 17 Palatine Square, Burnley. Battle of Jerusalem / Palestine Campaign casualty. Buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery in Israel. 

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.

Brestlaun, Owen

Date of Birth
Address
Taney, Wexford.
Service No.
10053
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Gallipoli, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Stated he was born at Carnew, Co. Wexford, when enlisting also states Co. Wexford on 1911 Census as place of Birth. Son of Daniel and Bessie , Ballyellis. Memorial at Helles Memorial in Turkey. 

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
5458
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in hospital. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Mary Brien of Chapel Lane, Enniscorthy. Died three weeks after the beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres, (22 April – 25 May 1915) in which his battalion, 2nd RIR, serving in 4th Division were a part.

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Address
Belfast
Service No.
13545
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders. Commemorated on Menin Gate, Ypres.
Other Biographical Details

Died three week after Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915) in which 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, serving in 28th Division, were a part. Husband of Mary C. Doherty (formerly Brien) 0f 46 Colinward Street, Springfield Road, Belfast.

Sample Records

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.

Doyle, Jeremiah

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
22839
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Maria Doyle.

Smith, James

Photo of Jamse Smith as a young boy. cira 1900.
Date of Birth
Alias
Smyth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
12504
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds. Wound to the head from shell at Beaumont Hamel 01.07.1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anastatia Smith née Saunders of Wexford.
James Smith and Anastatia Saunders were married in Wexford where they had three children.  They left Wexford for Liverpool around 1882, where their son Michael was born.  They returned to Wexford around 1885. James was born in 1890.

His Battalion was part of 87 Brigade, 29th Division that attacked Beaumont Hamel 01/07/1916.  This is likely when James was wounded in the head by a shell.  He was evacuated to Sunderland Infirmary where his sister Bridget took care of him until he died 29/07/1916.
James is buried alongside his brother , Michael in Ford cemetery, Liverpool. 

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