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 October 2nd

Barlow, Thomas Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Streamstown, Tagoat
Service No.
402818
Rank
Airman
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Missing presumed dead
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Anne Barlow née Duggan, Lady's Island. In 1901 Thomas resided with his aunt Elizabeth Duggan at Buncarrick, Lady's Island. Worked as a farm servant for Joyces of Hayesland, St. Helen's, Wexford, 1911. Effects to mother Mrs Ann Canning of Broadway, Lady's Island. 

Buttle, Albert Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Annie Buttle of Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. His father, John was Director of Messrs. Buttle Bros & Co. Ltd, Bacon Curers and Merchants. Albert was educated in Newtown School, Waterford and Model School, Enniscorthy. Enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st April 1915. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Bn. Took part in the Battles of the Somme in July 1916 and was invalided home in January 1917. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 1917. Was offered a medical discharge being medically unfit, but volunteered again and rejoined his regiment in France on 29th May 1918. A casualty of the Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 Sept – 2 Oct 1918). Buried in Haringhe Military Cemetery.

Kinsella, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Parkhead, Glasgow
Service No.
42506
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Mary Kinsella nee Phillips of Ballycooge, Woodenbridge, Co.Wicklow. Husband of Mary Kinsella of 129 Brook Arklow, Co.Wicklow.

Pinnions, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
27176
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Jane Pinnions nee Barker of Hollyfort, Gorey.

Shea, Richard

Date of Birth
Service No.
187695
Rank
Private
Regiment
Manitoba Regiment
27th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Michael John and Mary Shea nee Burke of Kiltennell, Gorey. Brother of Margrette Shea, Ballinapottage, Auger, Co.Tyrone.

Somers, Albert Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Cloughjordan, Co.Tipperary
Service No.
3-7984 and 7984
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert Wilson Somers and Charlotte Somers nee Boyse of Cloughjordan, Co.Tipperary.

Awarded Military Medal and Bar

Sample Records

Murphy, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Service No.
27700
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action by gas in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of George and Mary Murphy née Keating. All the family were born in Wexford except Albert. Lived in Wexford since infancy. Named as Albert G. on the Census.

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)

Porter, William James

Date of Birth
Address
'Elmfield', Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Anne Elizabeth Porter nee Grandy of 'Elmfield' Wexford.

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