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 14th

Blake, Thomas David

Date of Birth
Service No.
105125
Rank
Bombardier
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Francis & Ellen Blake née Cullen of Coddstown. Husband of Mary Blake née Meyler, Coddstown, Killinick, Co. Wexford. There is a discrepancy between record and local newspaper article in terms of place of death.

Lane, Patrick John

Address
Fulham
Service No.
23699
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal West Surrey Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary. Husband of the late Annie Lacey. 

Roach, Edward

Date of Birth
Service No.
1828T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Pactolus
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died suddenly from heart failure, 14th April 1916. buried in Scotland
Other Biographical Details
Left Widow Elizabeth McLachlan, 9 Moncrieff Street, Paisley, Scotland , the son of Anthony and Anne Roach

Roberts, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
9 Bride Place, Wexford
Service No.
31442
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Margaret Roberts nee Caulfield of South Main Street, Wexford. Husband of Annie Roberts of 9 Bride Place, Wexford. Memorial on Panel 6 & 7, Ploegsteert, Belgium.

Born on April 14th

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
6952
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed during Battle of Le Pilly, France.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Nellie (Ellen) Brien née Fitzgerald, Byrne's Lane, Wexford whom he married on October 17th 1910. Son of the late John and Mary Brien née Kehoe, John Street, Wexford. (Later of Duke Street). Remembered on Panel 11&12, Le Touret Memorial, France.

Sample Records

Nolan, James

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of James Nolan prior to enlisting aged 20. Freshfaced, short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with narrow knotted tie and a lighted coloured relaxed jacket.
Date of Birth
Address
Ballinamona, Ballycanew, Gorey.
Service No.
8225
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action during the Battle of San Quentin at The Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Nolan née Duffy of Ballinamona, Ballycanew. (Twin brother of Peter.) Formally with the Royal Irish Regiment Service number 5161. 
Decorated in 1917 and awarded the Military Medal, for bravery in battle on land.  He was listed in the London Gazette on 18th July 1917. Memorialised on Panel 90-93 the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France.

Sikes, Richard Herbert

Posed studio photo of a young Richard Sikes taken prior to enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
2 Park View, Wellington Road, Cork
Rank
Sub Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Howe Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the Western Front
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Cherry Sikes and Susanna Lecky Sikes 2 Parkview Wellington Rd. Cork. In 1914 he joined the Royal Fusiliers and spent a winter in the trenches.  He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was in command of a company in the Howe Battalion. Sub Lieutenant Richard Herbert Sikes is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France and the War Memorial in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork. Buried at Bay 1. Arras Memorial, Department du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

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.

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