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 June 13th

Campbell, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
6021
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned in Kinsale Harbour.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Campbell née Fitzpatrick. His father Thomas was a retired RIC Sergeant and died at Shanbogh, New Ross, Co. Kilkenny, 6th September 1914.

Born on June 13th

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.

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.

Humphreys, William John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilnamanagh
Service No.
5176
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of Richard and Amelia Margaret 'Emily' Humphreys nee Tector of Ballynahowen, Gorey, Co.Wexford.

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.

Bartholomew McCarthy

Date of Birth
Alias
Bartle
Address
45 Lambe Street, Liverpool
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lusitania (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Lusitania sunk by German submarine U-20 of the coast of Cobh, Co. Cork
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Bridget (née White)

Reid, Edgar

Date of Birth
Address
Born in Mullingar, Co.Westmeath.
Service No.
7111
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds from a burst shell in the trench where he was standing at the time, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Julia Reid née Tolster. The 1911 Census shows him, aged 12, with his parents at 18 Monck Street, Wexford.

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