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 18th

Cullen, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
3642
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Eliza Cullen nee Stafford.  Stepson of Margaret Cullen nee Kavanagh.

Fitzhenry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
John's Gate Street, Wexford
Service No.
7110
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned at Interlaken, Switzerland
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Annie Fitzhenry.  His mother was later Annie Carty of 3 John's Gate Street, Wexford. Member of the Irish National Volunteers. Severely wounded (shrapnel left leg, arm and side) and taken prisoner 2 July 1916. He was interned in Switzerland prior to a planned repatriation.

McCaul, Stephen James

Date of Birth
Address
991/2 Elm Street, Yonkers, New York, USA.
Service No.
1210683
Rank
Private
Regiment
US Army
Company E, 107 Infantry
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action at Amiens, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Bridget McCaul nee Doyle. 

McLennan, Farquhar John

Date of Birth
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Gordon Highlanders
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at Gillemont
Other Biographical Details

Son of John McLennan of Killough House, Bray, Co.Wicklows Son of John and Emily Jane McLennan née Heatley

Sunderland, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
29236
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Michael and Anne Sunderland née Parker.

Symes, Thomas Arthur

Date of Birth
Address
Cross Patrick, Tinehely, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
14228
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Dysentry at the Austrailian Hospital, Mudros, Greece.
Other Biographical Details

Seventh Son of Sandham John and Catherine Chamney Symes nee Swan of 'Hill View', Tinahely, Co.Wicklow. Educated privately Thomas was a bank clerk with Bank of Ireland. Buried in Portianos Military Cemetery, Greece. (Grave: I B 37)

Sample Records

O’Connor, Thomas

Date of Birth
Alias
Tom
Address
Duncormick, Co.Wexford
Service No.
241768
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Murphy O'Connor of Duncormick, Co.Wexford. Fostered by Tom and Maryanne Moran at Belgrove, Duncormick. After the death of foster mother, Tom lived with Phil Moran and Mary Corish in Duncormick. Left effects to his aunt Miss Mary Moran. Buried (Grave number D18), Fienvillers British Cemetery, Lower Somme, France.

Taylor, Godfrey Lovelace

Date of Birth
Address
Grangville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Fleet Surgeon
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Formidable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Sunk by two German torpedoes fired by Submarine U-24 on New Year's Day 38 miles off the Devon Coast.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Godfrey Lovelace Taylor and Dorothea Marie Taylor nee Bruun of Grangeville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.

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. 

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