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 October 19th

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.

Brien, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
Lightwater, Kilmore, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
5493
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle Le Pilly.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth Brien née Walsh. A career soldier. On death his effects and monies due were divided among his four siblings, brothers Thomas and John O'Brien and sisters Elizabeth McKee & Mary Wills. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais. 

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
6952
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed during Battle of Le Pilly, France.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Nellie (Ellen) Brien née Fitzgerald, Byrne's Lane, Wexford whom he married on October 17th 1910. Son of the late John and Mary Brien née Kehoe, John Street, Wexford. (Later of Duke Street). Remembered on Panel 11&12, Le Touret Memorial, France.

Brooks, John

Service No.
6599
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Messines Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Ellen Brooks of Enniscorthy. Husband of Margaret Brooks of 18 Duffy Gate, Enniscorthy. Enniscorthy Guardian. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

Canavan, Matthew

Date of Birth
Address
Ballon, Co.Carlow
Service No.
7667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during Battle of Le Pilly, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Anne Canavan née Roche. Married Margaret Doran 1907. Widow later Mrs Peter Kearney.  Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee.

Cardiff, Patrick

Address
Taghmon
Service No.
4380
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Elizabeth Kinsella of Taghmon.

Carroll, Richard

Service No.
10641
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Listed on Panels 11 and 12 on the Le Touret Memorial in France.

Copeland, James

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy.
Service No.
5432
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Margaret Copeland nee Dillon, 14 Court Street, Enniscorthy.

Dempsey, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
4347
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Dempsey nee Sinnott of Ballyboher, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford. 

Born on October 19th

Jeffares, Richard Thorpe

Date of Birth
Address
Skarke House, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Head Wound, 33rd Casualty Clearing Station
Other Biographical Details

The fourth son of Michael Henry Jeffares, a farmer, and Catherine ‘Kate’ Jeffares née Collier. His mother died 15.11.1895. Father used surname Jeffers and re-married in 1896. The 1901 Census shows Richard and his brother Michael living with their uncle John Jeffares at Skarke House, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Invalided home from France due to measles 14.5.1915. A letter to Uncle John, 10.10.1916, enclosed Army Form W3136 — only to be used if he was killed — for claiming a gratuity for officers killed in action. ‘If I do go West spend some of it on Mick.’ Mick was serving with 1st Royal Irish Rifles. Wounded in action, ‘gunshot wound left forearm severe’, 10.8.1917, while commanding B Company, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles. Discharged from hospital 5 September and rejoined his unit. WO telegram 6.10.1917: ‘Regret to inform you Capt. R.T. Jeffares Irish Rifles reported Oct 6th admitted 33rd Casualty Clearing Station dangerously wounded head. Further reports will be sent on receipt.’ He died that day.

Meyler, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
110470
Rank
Armourer
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Sunk by three torpedoes fired from the Turkish torpedo boat Muavenet which was manned by a German crew at the time.
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late James and Anne Meyler. (Married 1881) Co. Wexford. The 1911 Census shows him with his wife Philippa at 12 Amherst Street, Pennycomequick, Plymouth. Children present were Adelaide (28), John (23), Francis (16) and Norman (12). Widow at 9 Holdsworth Street, Pennycomequick, Plymouth. Body not recovered for burial. Appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Sample Records

White, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
177 The Faythe, Wexford.
Service No.
9511
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Nicholas and Mary Ann White née Doyle. Mother widowed in 1903, returned to Wexford and remarried to Michael Kavanagh, The Faythe (and later of Byrnes Lane). Effects to his mother. Lived with his mother and step-father in the Faythe and worked as a Messenger Boy aged 13 in 1911.

Nolan, James

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of James Nolan prior to enlisting aged 20. Freshfaced, short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with narrow knotted tie and a lighted coloured relaxed jacket.
Date of Birth
Address
Ballinamona, Ballycanew, Gorey.
Service No.
8225
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action during the Battle of San Quentin at The Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Nolan née Duffy of Ballinamona, Ballycanew. (Twin brother of Peter.) Formally with the Royal Irish Regiment Service number 5161. 
Decorated in 1917 and awarded the Military Medal, for bravery in battle on land.  He was listed in the London Gazette on 18th July 1917. Memorialised on Panel 90-93 the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France.

Toole, David Frederick Jack

Date of Birth
Alias
Jack
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
49th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

 

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe.

Brother of Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole died 15.09.1916.

Buried: Ontario Cemetery, Sains-les-Marquion, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

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