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 January 7th

Berney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
12418
Rank
Acting Corporal
Regiment
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Gallipoli, Killed in Action during days of evacuation from Cape Helles in December/January 1915-16
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Eliza Berney née Meyler.

Harte, Martin

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford
Service No.
3994
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of pneumonia while a prisoner of war in Germany
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Harte, H.M. Customs, and Eliza nee Lacey, South Main Street, Wexford.

Born on January 7th

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)

Holbrook, Patrick Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford
Service No.
1042
Rank
Private
Regiment
12th Lancers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of John and Mary Holbrook née Duggan, South Main Street, Wexford. Brother of Very Reverend Henry Holbrook, Chancellor of the Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand.

Sample Records

Buttle, Albert Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Annie Buttle of Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. His father, John was Director of Messrs. Buttle Bros & Co. Ltd, Bacon Curers and Merchants. Albert was educated in Newtown School, Waterford and Model School, Enniscorthy. Enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st April 1915. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Bn. Took part in the Battles of the Somme in July 1916 and was invalided home in January 1917. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 1917. Was offered a medical discharge being medically unfit, but volunteered again and rejoined his regiment in France on 29th May 1918. A casualty of the Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 Sept – 2 Oct 1918). Buried in Haringhe Military Cemetery.

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.

Cheevers, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Campile, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
14122
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Kings Liverpool Regiment
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Cheevers nee Hanlon of Horeswood, Campile, Wexford.

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