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 April 26th

Cotton, Laurence

Date of Birth
Alias
Lawrence
Address
Maiden Lane, New Ross
Service No.
7829
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Mary Cotton née Sweeney, His father was chimney cleaner.

Doolan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
4522
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at 7th General Hospital, St Omer, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Kate Doolan nee Palmer of Barrack Street, New Ross.

Mc Grath, Michael

Service No.
26158
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Bridget McGrath of Redmoore Cottage, Duncormick.

Born on April 26th

Dwyer, James

Date of Birth
Address
252 Derby Road, Bootle, near Liverpool.
Rank
Trimmer
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lusitania (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Lusitania was sunk by German Submarine U-20.
Other Biographical Details

Son of David and Mary Dwyer née Sullivan. Commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial.

Sample Records

Leach, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
K/11874
Rank
Petty Officer Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Rocket
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidental drowning, passenger, SS Great Western
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Kate Leach nee Ryan. His father was a labourer. His gallantry medal was presented to him by King George V.  He was part of a specially selected group of 100 men that lined the aisle of Westminster Abbey for the interment of the Unknown Warrior. Widow was Ellen Mary 'Helena' Leach nee Kennedy and later Mrs James Heneberry. Left two children. Died from drowning off Great Island while returning to England as a passenger on the SS Great Western. Cause not determined at the inquest but witnesses indicated that it was not suicide. His father helped to recover the body from the river on 24th April. Buried 25 yards south-west of entrance to Kilmokea Cemetery, Co. Wexford.

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.

Smith, George Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Maudlintown, Wexford
Service No.
2534
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Australian Infantry
45th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Johanna Smith nee Sinnott of Maudlintown, Wexford. 

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