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 April 21st

Healy, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Batt Street, Wexford
Service No.
4742
Rank
Unknown
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Mr Michel Healy.  Son of Michael and Mary Healy née Walsh

Keating, David Timothy

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
14th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr David Reginald and Ellen Keating née O'Connor T.C. Ardara.  His father was a commercial traveller. His older brother Lt. James Keating served with the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.

Mc Grath, Thomas

Address
31 Monument Place, Wexford
Service No.
17877
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth McGrath of 31 Monument Place, Wexford. 

Born on April 21st

Conroy, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
7790
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 Michael and Annie Conroy née Foley of New Street, Kilkenny.

Golden, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
3276B
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Louvain
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by German submarine UC-22.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Margaret Golden nee Murphy, Trinity Street, Wexford. Husband of Mary Ellen Golden nee Furlong of Wygram Place, Wexford. 

Sample Records

Tottenham, Edward Lowry

Date of Birth
Address
Slaney Hall, Enniscorthy.
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action Basra, Iraq
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lowry Cliffe Loftus and Isabella Ogle Tottenham, The Grange, Moy, Co. Tyrone. His father Lowry Cliffe Loftus Tottenham was a former Royal Irish Constabulary district inspector who retired to Moy. He was educated at St. Bee's School, Cumberland, and entered the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, in 1914. He belonged to both School and College O.T.C., and on the outbreak of the war he volunteered for service. He joined the Lowland Division at Stirling and was subsequently given a commission in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was transport officer for some time and then joined the 6th Battalion in Egypt. He served in the battles of 5th and 6th April when the 13th Division captured the Turkish positions in Mesopotamia, and at the repulse at Sanna-y-Hat on 9th April was reported missing and subsequently reported killed on that day.

Browne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9663
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr J. Browne of Green St, Wexford. Buried Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines, France. Served as a machine gunner - killed while manning the machine gun in a defensive position.

Byrne, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Lived in Wygram, Wexford. (also lived in Waterloo Road and Upper John Street.)
Service No.
1900
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the Third Battle of Ypres, Flanders (Jul 31, 1917 – Nov 10, 1917).
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Sarah Byrne, (nee Lacey) Wygram, Wexford. Step Mother Margaret Byrne (nee Roche) at John Street, Wexford. Thomas was an apprentice moulder in a local foundry at the time of the Wexford Lockout 1911. His body was never recovered. He is memorialised on panel 33, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

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