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

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

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.

Quirke, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Blackwater, Co.Wexford.
Service No.
9822
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the battle of Hooge, Ypres France on Easter Sunday.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Dora Quirk of Ballinahask, Kilmuckridge, Gorey. Remembered on Panel 33, YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL.

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