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 February 7th

Devine, Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
22427
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Annie Devine nee Mape of Gorey. Married Mary Cullen in 1915. She was later Mrs Mary Hayden at 1 William Street, Gorey. 

Furniss, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Chapel Lane, New Ross
Service No.
10985
Rank
Private
Regiment
4th (Queen's Own) Hussars
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Furniss nee Kavanagh of Church Lane, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Brother of Martin Furniss.

Born on February 7th

Coy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
J.4768
Rank
Leading Telegraphist
Regiment
Royal Navy
HM Submarine E49
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. HM Submarine E49 was mined off the Shetland Islands on 12th March 1917. The minefield was laid by the German U-boat UC-76 on 10th March 1917. There were no survivors.
Other Biographical Details
Mother: Mary, West House, Henry Street, Galway. Parents: Hugh Coy and Mary Willcox. His father was a master wheelright and carpenter. Both parents were born in England. The 1901 Census shows the family at 2 Paul Quay, Wexford. Children were Henry (23), Elizabeth (19), Frederick (17), Alice (15), George (14), Albert (12), Lucy (11), Charles (9), Thomas (8), Florence (6), Gertrude (4), Edith (3) and Mabel (1).

Sample Records

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.

Murray, Cecil William

Black and White head and shoulder shot civilian collar and tie.
Date of Birth
Service No.
14125
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Daniel and Arabella Jane Murray née Corvan, 14 Harrington Street, Dublin.

Roche, James

Date of Birth
Address
15 College Road North, Blundell Sands, Liverpool
Service No.
6701
Rank
Private
Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Agnes Roche nee Rowe, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford. Sole legatee was his sister Mary Kate Roche, 67 Empire Road, Liverpool. Other siblings were Walter, Richard, Patrick, and Ellen.

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