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 August 24th

Doran, Daniel

Date of Birth
Service No.
18234
Rank
Private
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Denis and Margaret Doran née Foley. Resided with his sister Mrs Margaret Earl at 3 Roe Street, Birkenhead.

Franklin, John Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyalla, Castlehaven South, Co. Cork
Service No.
170167
Rank
Petty Officer Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Cornwallis
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from heart disease while serving with the Coast Guard at Ballyalla, Co. Cork.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Anne Franklin nee Cahill. Husband of Mary Ann 'Marian' Franklin nee Murphy and brother of Sergeant Martin Franklin, Royal Irish Regiment. Invalided from the Navy 31 May 1916 and employed with the Coast Guard.

Loughlin, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
6583
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Mons, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Anne Loughlin (nee Blye) of Clonroche. Served in the South African War prior to the outbreak of the Great war. Killed during the 2nd day of the Battle for Mons, regarded as the Opening Battle of the First World War for the British Expeditionary Force.  William is remembered at St Symphorien Military Cemetery.

He had a brother James lived at Ballymackessy, Clonroche, Co. Wexford. 

Sample Records

Kane, John Francis Aloysius

Date of Birth
Address
Saunderscourt, Wexford
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed while flying at Brooklands, London
Other Biographical Details

Third son of John and Mary Kane nee O'Connor, formerly of Saunderscourt, Wexford. Brother Robert Henry.

Thorpe, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon hill, Enniscorthy
Service No.
11390
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Thorpe née Kelly. 

Whelan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Rathaspick, Co. Wexford
Service No.
8917
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the battle of Le Pilly on October 19, 1914. His body was never recovered but his name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial in the Pas de Calais region of northern France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Whelan, a labourer and Elizabeth née Carroll. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais.

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