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 November 20th

Dempsey, Jack

Date of Birth
Service No.
150880
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Infantry
79th Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Johanna Dempsey nee Roche of Glenview, Barntown, Co. Wexford.

Born on November 20th

Mellefont, Thomas Gray

Date of Birth
Address
Riverchapel, Courtown, Co. Wexford
Service No.
2/9887
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at Bethune, Pas-de-Calais, France
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of Robert and Susan Mellefont née Gilbert. His Father, born in Carne, Co. Wexford was station officer in the Coast Guard. 1901 census shows family living in Riverchapel. Thomas enlisted before the War in Jan 1912. His brother Gilbert served with the Royal Navy and survived the War. Thomas is commemorated on a memorial in the former Mariners Church, Dun Laoghaire which is now a museum.  

Walsh, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
J.30975
Rank
Signaller
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Magic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by an explosion
Other Biographical Details
The son of Richard and Jessie Maria Walsh née Hicks. Father: Richard, Beggars Bush Barracks, Dublin. His father, born in Mooncoin, Co. Kilkenny, was Colour-Sergeant, 3rd Royal Irish Regiment. The 1901 Census shows the family at 6 Upper King Street, Wexford. Children were Violet Bridget (12), Richard (4), Thomas (2), and Edward (3 months).

Sample Records

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.

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.

Harte-Maxwell, Percival

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
Attached 1st Royal Irish Rifles
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Samuel and Edith Harte-Maxwell nee Carroll. Worked with Bank of Ireland Enniscorthy for four years prior to enlisting.

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