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 4th

Furlong, Laurence

Date of Birth
Service No.
S/6942
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Army Ordnance Corp
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Furlong of Clongeen, Foulksmills, Wexford.

Tweedy, George

Date of Birth
Address
11 Flinders Street, Stanley Road, Liverpool.
Service No.
42688
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
20th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Tweedy née Power. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetary, Belguim. (Grave: XVII E 16.)

Born on August 4th

Doyle, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford.
Service No.
10346
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Doyle nee Walsh of South Main Street, Wexford. 

Hawkins, George

Date of Birth
Service No.
O/118
Rank
Leading Signalman
Regiment
Royal Canadian Navy
HMCS Rainbow
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Francis 'Fanny' Hawkins nee Loftus of Killegney, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Hornick, Augustus

Date of Birth
Alias
Hawnick
Service No.
4299117
Rank
Private
Regiment
Labour Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Home
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of William Thomas and Mary Anne Hornick nee Edmonds of Wexford.

Hornick, John Augustus

Date of Birth
Address
40 Abbey Street, Wexford.
Service No.
429917
Rank
Private
Regiment
Labour Corps
296th Labour Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Dundee Military Hospital, Scotland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Thomas and Mary Anne Hornick nee Edmonds, Abbey Street, Wexford. His father was a master gardener.

Sample Records

Leach, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
K/11874
Rank
Petty Officer Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Rocket
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidental drowning, passenger, SS Great Western
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Kate Leach nee Ryan. His father was a labourer. His gallantry medal was presented to him by King George V.  He was part of a specially selected group of 100 men that lined the aisle of Westminster Abbey for the interment of the Unknown Warrior. Widow was Ellen Mary 'Helena' Leach nee Kennedy and later Mrs James Heneberry. Left two children. Died from drowning off Great Island while returning to England as a passenger on the SS Great Western. Cause not determined at the inquest but witnesses indicated that it was not suicide. His father helped to recover the body from the river on 24th April. Buried 25 yards south-west of entrance to Kilmokea Cemetery, Co. Wexford.

Kane, John Francis Aloysius

Date of Birth
Address
Saunderscourt, Wexford
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed while flying at Brooklands, London
Other Biographical Details

Third son of John and Mary Kane nee O'Connor, formerly of Saunderscourt, Wexford. Brother Robert Henry.

Brown, Nicholas

Date of Birth
Alias
Browne
Address
King Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9653
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Sarah Brown née Howlin. His father was a Baker by trade.  Originally joined the 1st Batt, Royal Irish Rangers in 1908 and had served in India. Sent to France in 1914 at the outbreak of war. Buried in strand Military Cemetery, Belgium.  Died one month after Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915) in which 1st Royal Irish, serving in 27th Division, were a part. Served in Connaught Rangers before war.

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