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 October 21st

Gill, John

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
25750
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at 8th Casualty Clearing Station, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Gill nee Neville of Ballyclemock, Newbawn, Co. Wexford. 

O'Callaghan, James

Date of Birth
Address
Rochford', Edermine, Enniscorthy
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Margaret O'Callaghan of 'Rochford', Edermine, Enniscorthy. Article in a Wexford newspaper. De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour.

O'Connor, James

Date of Birth
Address
Dublin
Service No.
10858
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Grandson of Mr. James O'Connor, Clerk of the Wexford Union and of Mr. John Fenlon, Herd, Johnstown Castle.Son of Sergeant Roderick (R Irish Regiment) and Mary O'Connor née Fenlon of Redmondstown, Rathaspeck. Both parents born in Wexford.

Pierce, James

Date of Birth
Address
Ballymore
Service No.
4326
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 Walter and Elizabeth Pierce nee Tobin of Grageen, Ballycogley.

Rossiter, James

Address
Mary Street, Wexford
Service No.
6846
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders. Struck in the head with a bullet. Died in a field hospital.
Other Biographical Details
Brother of Mr J. Rossiter of Mary St, Wexford. Enniscorthy Guardian article.

Born on October 21st

Beatty, Charles Harold Longfield

Date of Birth
Address
Borodale, Enniscorthy
Rank
Major
Regiment
Special Lists
Staff
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died Undergoing Surgery, Atherstone, England on 17th May 1917, aged 47.
Other Biographical Details

Eldest son of the late Captain David Longfield and Catherina Edith Beatty [nee Chaine], of Oakfield, Atherstone.  Husband of Lucy Alice Beatty, born c1869 at Western Port, Australia. ADC to General Sir Edwin Alderson, Commander of Canadian Expeditionary Force and attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Older brother of  Admiral of the Fleet David Earl Beatty, P.C., G.C.B. and brother of Captain Richard George Beatty.  https://www.nnwfhs.org.uk/catch-all/first-world-war-centenary-2/men-of-ww1-members-detailed-pages/1355-maj-chl-beatty

 

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 .

Curran, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
4001
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick Curran R.N.R., and Johanna nee Brien, William Street, Wexford.

James Brett

Date of Birth
Alias
James Jnr
Address
370 Bannerman Ave, Winnipege, Manitoba, Canada.
Service No.
148734
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
78th
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Missing presummed dead after action near the Village of Hallu, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James (1869-1926) and Mary Margaret Brett née Sweeney (1871-1945) both born Co. Wexford. Residents of  house 12 in Rochestown, Wexford in 1901 census. Moved to City of Winnipeg, Canada c. 1903. He was recorded as missing in action at a battle near Hallu, as part of the Battle of Amiens, and his name is recorded on the Vimy memorial. Both father and son enlisted. James Snr. survived and was discharged on 1st April 1919.

Sample Records

Cooper, John

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
7571
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Cooper née Warren of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Brother of 2273 Michael Cooper.

Smith, James

Photo of Jamse Smith as a young boy. cira 1900.
Date of Birth
Alias
Smyth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
12504
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds. Wound to the head from shell at Beaumont Hamel 01.07.1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anastatia Smith née Saunders of Wexford.
James Smith and Anastatia Saunders were married in Wexford where they had three children.  They left Wexford for Liverpool around 1882, where their son Michael was born.  They returned to Wexford around 1885. James was born in 1890.

His Battalion was part of 87 Brigade, 29th Division that attacked Beaumont Hamel 01/07/1916.  This is likely when James was wounded in the head by a shell.  He was evacuated to Sunderland Infirmary where his sister Bridget took care of him until he died 29/07/1916.
James is buried alongside his brother , Michael in Ford cemetery, Liverpool. 

Elmes, King

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
attached 2nd/16th Battalion London Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Mary Elmes née Robinson of Robinstown House, Palace East, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 

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