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.

About

The Records

About

Contact Us

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 May 22nd

Mercer, Samuel Alexander

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/552234, also 168453
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details
Son of George and Anna Rebecca Mercer nee Clarke of Gorey.

Born on May 22nd

O’loughlin, James

Date of Birth
Address
Cordangan, Tipperary
Service No.
3123
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Margaret O'Loughlin née Powell of Cordangan, Tipperary. His father was an RIC constable.

Roche, James

Date of Birth
Address
15 College Road North, Blundell Sands, Liverpool
Service No.
6701
Rank
Private
Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Agnes Roche nee Rowe, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford. Sole legatee was his sister Mary Kate Roche, 67 Empire Road, Liverpool. Other siblings were Walter, Richard, Patrick, and Ellen.

Sample Records

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)

Browne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9663
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr J. Browne of Green St, Wexford. Buried Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines, France. Served as a machine gunner - killed while manning the machine gun in a defensive position.

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.

Explore the Records