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 December 25th

Howlin, James

Date of Birth
Address
Grange, Rathnure, Co. Wexford
Service No.
7509
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at sea from dysentery aboard HMS Asturias
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Stasia Howlin of Goolin, Co. Carlow. He was residing at Monamolin, Gorey, when he married Bridget Martin  in 1895. In 1911 he was with his family at Grange, Rathnure.

Born on December 25th

Goggin, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
4272
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Catherine Goggin of Mary's Lane, Wexford. Husband of Elizabeth Goggin nee Berry of Wetherheld's Court, Bride Street, Wexford. Married 1905 in Wexford. All children born in Wexford

Rossiter, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
3095A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Hampshire
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Rossiter of William Street, Wexford.

Sample Records

Anderson, James

Date of Birth
Address
3 Trinity Place, Wexford.
Service No.
5624
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds Battle of the Rivers, at Aisne, October 1914, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Ellen Anderson of 3 Trinity Place, Wexford. Fifteen years service, fought in the second South African campaign. Buried in the Canadian Cemetery No.2 Neuville-St. Vaast, france

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

Sweetman, Michael James Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Samberton Park, Richmond, Limerick.
Service No.
9980
Rank
Major
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds - Ctesiphon, Bagdad, Iraq
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael James and Margaret Sweetman nee Powell, Lamberton Park, Queens County.  Educated - Downside, London University, Sandhurst
Retired - prior to WWI. In 1914 he Returned to the colors (Worcestershire Regt.)
1914 - Wounded and M.I.D. in Flanders at Polygon Wood in October and was awarded 1914 Star and Bar, Victory Medal.
Attached - 2nd Dorset Regt for Persian Gulf Expedition (2ND in command)
Became Commanding Officer of 2nd Dorsetshire when Major, Acting Lt.Col. Radcliffe was wounded.
Led successful attacks on Turkish Redoubts during Battle of Ctesiphon. He was Mortally wounded during Battle when he was shot in the groin while leading his men at Ctesiphon.  Despite his injury he stayed with them.  He was evacuated after the battle on a hospital ship on the Tigris but died 3 days later before they reached Kut.
He is the 2nd Oldest person buried at Kut War Cemetary.

Major Sweetman had three sisters, all published authors (2 novelists and a Poet). His brother-in-law was Egerton Castle... author, swordsmen, captain of the epee and saber team at the 1908 Olympics. His uncle was John Sweetman was one of the founders of and 2nd President of Sinn Fein.

The Sweetman family were brewers but sold their brewery to Guinness in 1893.

He was put up for the D.S.O. three times.  All were downgraded to M.I.D. Buried Grave L9, Kut War Cemetery, Iraq.

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