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 15th

Doyle, James

Date of Birth
Address
Talbot Street, Wexford
Service No.
1385
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from pneumonia at Talbot Street, Wexford
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Alice Doyle nee Byrne, 59 Talbot Street, Wexford.

Furlong, John

Date of Birth
Address
Rowe Street, Wexford
Service No.
31273
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at 43rd General Hospital, Salonica, Greece
Other Biographical Details

Son of Francis and Mary Furlong nee Duff, Duke Street, Wexford. Husband of Elizabeth Jane Furlong of Rose Villa, Alfred Parade, St James, Bristol

Hayes, Robert

Date of Birth
Alias
CANNING, Robert
Service No.
19483
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Grenadier Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Hayes. He was raised by his grandparents Patrick and Ann Hayes of Kilmannon Little, Cleristown, Co. Wexford.

Born on November 15th

Dempsey, Simon

Date of Birth
Service No.
6282
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Simon and Kate Dempsey née Whitty formerly Byrne. Served as 63393 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1907. Brother of Thomas Dempsey of 'Mountain View', Castle Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. 

Farrell, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Clohamon, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
6712
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Anne Farrell nee Davis, Clohamon. Husband of Mary Farrell nee Morris of Clohamon, Co. Wexford. Father of 11666 Patrick Farrell.

Sample Records

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

Forde, Frank

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
26437
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back to the trenches for medical attention.
Other Biographical Details

Born John Francis, son of John and Margaret Forde nee Rourke.  His father, born in Co. Galway, was a constable in the RIC and later an insurance agent. His mother was born in Co. Wexford. Later resided at Patrick Square, Wexford.
A clerical worker in the Pierce Ironworks Foundry in Wexford, Frank joined up aged 16. In early August 1916, he arrived in France and fought at the Battle of the Somme. However, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday, Frank was grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back from the trenches for medical attention. His platoon commander, Lieutenant A.W. Henchy wrote to Frank's parents and called him 'a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud'. Frank was buried in Trachee de Mecknes Cemetary in the Pas de Calais in France. In his military will, he left everything he possessed to his mother.

White, John

Date of Birth
Address
Johnstown Post Office, Co.Kilkenny
Service No.
2695
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Poelcappelle, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John (RIC stationed in Fethard, Co. Wexford) and Bridget White née Neville. John was a member of the Liverpool Police (No.351) Force prior to the war. Buried  Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, West Flanders, Belgium, Plot VII.F.17

The Battle of Poelcappelle was fought in Flanders, Belgium, on 9 October 1917 by the British Second Army and Fifth Army against the German 4th Army. The battle marked the end of the string of highly successful British attacks in late September and early October, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

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