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 18th

Lyons, Michael

Date of Birth
Alias
Michael Doyle
Service No.
4381
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Matthew and Ellen Lyons. Siblings were Matthew, John, Anne, Margaret and Patrick Lyons.

Walsh, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
K/31017
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Lobelia
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease
Other Biographical Details
Son of Matthew and Mary Anne Walshe nee Murphy of Rochestown, Taghmon, Co.Wexford.

Born on January 18th

Brehon, Richard Colles

Date of Birth
Address
14 Newtown or Commons, New Ross
Service No.
114383
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Mounted Rifles
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ypres (Ieper), Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders. Killed at the Battle of Mont Sorrel (Battle of Hill 62, 2 to 13 June 1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Colles and Anne Brehon, listed in 1901 Census in New Ross, Co. Wexford, as a gentleman farmer and a member of the Irish Church.

Cotton, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross.
Service No.
6746
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in the trenches by lightning flash in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Anastasia Cotton. Husband of Katie Cotton (née Henneberry), married at New Ross 20th May, 1907, of 15 Wind Mill Lane, New Ross.

Dempsey, James

Date of Birth
Address
Bridgetown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
11347
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Dempsey nee Fowler, Redmondstown, Rathaspick, Co. Wexford.

Sample Records

Toole, Edward Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Curracloe House, Wexford.
Service No.
1952
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
31st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Courevlette, The Somme in the vicinity of Pozieres
Other Biographical Details

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe. 

Family Background: According to the memorial article for Edward, in Du Rivigny’s United Kingdom Roll of Honour 1914-1919, the Toole children were descended from families who had some wealth and held positions of regard in their professions and within their communities. William John Toole, their father was both a land owner and land agent. The name of their home was Curracloe House. William’s father, Captain William O’Toole of the 40th British Regiment, served with distinction throughout his life. Their mother, Magdalene Thompson, was the daughter of William Thompson, a surgeon, who practiced in the army hospital in Madras, India, the city in which  Magdalene was born in 1845.

Family Life:  Edward Thomas Toole (nickname Ned) was born April 1, 1885 in Curracloe, Wexford, Ireland.  He was one of 13 known children of William and Magdalene, all born in Country Wexford: William (1871-1952, nickname Barney);  Isabella (1872-1919); Catherine (1873-1955); George Archer (1874-1957); Mary   (1876- ); Annie (1877-); Magdalene (1878-1940); Laurence Henry (1879-1967); Henrietta (1880-1968); Victoria (1881-1963); Archer John (1883 -1963); and, David Frederick Jack (1886-1918).

The Toole family is recorded in Wexford until at least 1888, when William lost his fortune in an investment in which beach land was being developed into farmland. The land was destroyed in a storm leaving the Tooles in financial stress (referenced by Toole-Peet history).

3 other brothers also served with the Canadian Forces. Captain Jack Toole killed in action France. 28.09.1918.   Death and Remembrance: Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole was killed in action on September 15, 1916, the first day of action of the Battle of Fleurs-Courcelette during the campaign in the Somme. His name is recorded on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.  He has no burial site.

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.

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.

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