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.

Born on February 5th

Furlong, Laurence

Date of Birth
Service No.
S/6942
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Army Ordnance Corp
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Furlong of Clongeen, Foulksmills, Wexford.

Handrick, James

Date of Birth
Alias
James Hanrick
Address
The Maudlins, New Ross.
Service No.
16355
Rank
Private
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
11th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the John and Elizabeth Handrick née Whitty, Maudlins, New Ross. Buried in Lonsdale Military Cemetary, Athuile, France. (Ref: VI.2.6)

Kinsella, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Sydney, Australia
Service No.
6152
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
25th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at 8th Stationary Hospital, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Denis Kinella and Mrs Brigid Kinsella, Bolacree, Gorey.

Taylor, Charles

Date of Birth
Rank
Major
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Godfrey Lovelace and Dorothea Marie Taylor née Bruun of Grangeville, Fethard.

Tompkins, John

Date of Birth
Address
Back Street, Wexford
Service No.
95072
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Mary Tompkins née Gough of Back Street, Wexford.

Sample Records

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

 

Hearn, Mr. John

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of Mr. John S. Hearn. Trimed mustache, wearing a hat and white button collar shirt with narrow knotted tie, waistcoat and top coat.
Date of Birth
Address
Ruane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Passenger
Regiment
Civilian
RMS Leinster
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Civilian passenger on board R.M.S. Leinster which was sunk by torpedoes in the Irish Sea, 16 miles east of Dublin, shortly before 10am on the morning of 10th October 1918
Other Biographical Details

Mr. Hearn was involved with the Star Engineering works in Wexford and was also a significant employer in his native town of New Ross. He had been a member of the local Urban Council since 1899 and occupied the chair for several years. He was also chairman of the New Ross Technical Committee for a number of years and had represented the New Ross Division on Wexford County Council for the previous eleven years, having succeeded his brother, Mr. J.B. Hearn. 
Mr. Hearn's only son, Charles Denis Hearn, (C.D Hearn) was serving as an officer in the A.T.S. He was also survived by his brothers, James B. Hearn, Denis B. Hearn, Patrick Hearn, Dr. W.F. Hearn, solicitor, and Col. M. Hearn.
His Body was lost at sea.

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)

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