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 July 9th

Berry, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
7567
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home in Wexford. The cause of death was Phthisis.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Johanna Berry née Connors. Husband of Katie Berry née Goggin, Mary's Lane, Gibson St., Wexford

Caulfield, Robert

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
371737
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
London Regiment
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Caulfield nee Browne of Lady Lane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Cleary, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Gelli Rhondda, Glam
Service No.
25457
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Johanna Roche of Kingsford, Barntown, Wexford., Son of William and Mary Coady née Connolly. The 1901 Census shows John Coady, b Ireland, aged 23, boarding at 17 Deron Street, Glasgow.

Fitzpatrick, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Askamore
Service No.
77557
Rank
Driver
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Jeremiah and Kate Fitzpatrick nee Nolan on Ballinaclea, Co. Wicklow

Valentine, Robert

Date of Birth
Service No.
J.34061
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Vanguard
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action
Other Biographical Details
The son of Albert and Rebecca Valentine née Montague. Mother: Rebecca: 16 Alglesea Road, Donnybrook, Dublin. the son of Albert and Rebecca Valentine née Montague. His father, born in Co. Wexford, was a labourer. His sister Sophia Rebecca was born at Templeowen, Co. Carlow, 15.1.1898. The 1901 Census shows them at Gorey Corporation Lands. The 1911 Census shows the family at Hatch Lane, Dublin. His father was then a chauffeur.

Born on July 9th

Berry, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
3049.T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Torpedo Boat 4
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action: Killed in explosion aboard HM Torpedo Boat 4 in Ramsgate, Kent which also killed 13 other crew.
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Mary Ellen, Bride Street, Wexford. Son of Patrick Berry and Mary Berry nee Sullivan, Bride Street, Wexford. His father was a labourer. 1901 Census shows his widowed mother at 28 Bride Street, Wexford. Children were James (19), Annie (16) and Michael (14). Formerly served as S/990.

Comerton, James

Date of Birth
Alias
James Comerford
Address
Wygram Place, Wexford
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Antinoe (London)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by a German Submarine 150 miles off Bishop Rock.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Mary Comerford née Mansfield. Changed his name to Comerton when he married Julia O'Connor in 1907. But in the 1911 Census she used the name Comerford. - Julia Comerton of Wygram Place, Wexford.

Sample Records

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.

Tottenham, Edward Lowry

Date of Birth
Address
Slaney Hall, Enniscorthy.
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action Basra, Iraq
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lowry Cliffe Loftus and Isabella Ogle Tottenham, The Grange, Moy, Co. Tyrone. His father Lowry Cliffe Loftus Tottenham was a former Royal Irish Constabulary district inspector who retired to Moy. He was educated at St. Bee's School, Cumberland, and entered the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, in 1914. He belonged to both School and College O.T.C., and on the outbreak of the war he volunteered for service. He joined the Lowland Division at Stirling and was subsequently given a commission in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was transport officer for some time and then joined the 6th Battalion in Egypt. He served in the battles of 5th and 6th April when the 13th Division captured the Turkish positions in Mesopotamia, and at the repulse at Sanna-y-Hat on 9th April was reported missing and subsequently reported killed on that day.

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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