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 2nd

Mitten, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Coolballow, Wexford
Service No.
18027
Rank
Private
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Bridget Mitten née Aylward

Walsh, Nicholas

Date of Birth
Address
Duncannon
Service No.
10775
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the front, France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Michael and Caroline Walsh nee Day of 13 Ponton Street, Nine Elms Lane, Battersea, London. Article in a Wexford newspaper.

Born on August 2nd

Cormack, John

Date of Birth
Alias
John Joseph Cormick
Service No.
4682B
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Majestic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Brother of William Cormack, Bing, Kilrane, Tagoat, Co. Wexford. Parents: John Cormick and Margaret Hayes. The 1901 Census shows William McCormack (21) at Bing with his siblings John (18), Mattie (16) and Maggie (14). By 1911 William had a family and John, an agricultural labourer, lived with him. Next of kin was his brother William McCormack.

Quinn, John

Date of Birth
Alias
John Quinlisk
Address
Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford.
Service No.
18143
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Elizabeth Quinn née Keevers of Ballyduffbegg, Co. Wexford. Buried Peronne Communal Cemetery Extention, France. (Grave: V M 26.)

Sample Records

Anderson, James

Date of Birth
Address
3 Trinity Place, Wexford.
Service No.
5624
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds Battle of the Rivers, at Aisne, October 1914, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Ellen Anderson of 3 Trinity Place, Wexford. Fifteen years service, fought in the second South African campaign. Buried in the Canadian Cemetery No.2 Neuville-St. Vaast, france

Barry, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmore
Service No.
52569
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action during the period between the Battles of the Lys (3 battles) and Second Battle of Arras
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Bridget Barry née Cloney, Neamstown, Kilmore, Co. Wexford. Brother of John, Royal Dublin Fusiliers killed in action Balkans 7th December 1915.

Ryan, James

Date of Birth
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in France, railway accident
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Ryan nee Roche of Raheen, Strahart, Ferns. Formerly he was 64994 Constable in the RIC. He had been wounded six times. He was a contributor to both home and foreign magazines, being a poet of a high order.

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