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 28th

Doyle, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Courtown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
8074
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at 21st Stationary Hospital, Salonika
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Eliza Doyle nee Kenna, 4 Grattan Terrace, Gorey. Brother of Margaret Doyle of 45 Upper Main Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Other siblings Edward and James

Hoysted, Francis Reginald

Date of Birth
Service No.
5/382
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details
Son of Fredick Robert And Anne Sophia Hoysted nee Hallam. Grandson of the late Canon Hallam, Camolin, Co. Wexford.

Roche, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Francis Street, Wexford.
Service No.
16490
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli. (Suvla Bay Landing)
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Roche of Francis Street, Wexford.
Brother of Private William Roche No.5767. 
Memorial/Buried: Green Hill Cemetery in Turkey.

Walker, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
63380
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
2/4th
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Walker née Loughlin. Husband of Mary née Brown. 

Born on August 28th

Fitzpatrick, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
75746
Rank
Private
Regiment
Northumberland Fusiliers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders while a POW, aged 30.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Mary Fitzpatrick née Foley. Sole legatee was his aunt Mrs Mary B. Farrell, Glasgow.

Sample Records

Rossiter, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
3095A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Hampshire
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Rossiter of William Street, Wexford.

Smyth, Robert Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns
Service No.
10501
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at Aral Wood, France
Other Biographical Details

De Ruivigny's Roll of Honour. Husband of Sarah, daughter of John Pratt. Son of Frank and Sarah Smyth née Pratt of Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns. At Munfin in the 1911 Census.

Forde, Frank

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
26437
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back to the trenches for medical attention.
Other Biographical Details

Born John Francis, son of John and Margaret Forde nee Rourke.  His father, born in Co. Galway, was a constable in the RIC and later an insurance agent. His mother was born in Co. Wexford. Later resided at Patrick Square, Wexford.
A clerical worker in the Pierce Ironworks Foundry in Wexford, Frank joined up aged 16. In early August 1916, he arrived in France and fought at the Battle of the Somme. However, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday, Frank was grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back from the trenches for medical attention. His platoon commander, Lieutenant A.W. Henchy wrote to Frank's parents and called him 'a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud'. Frank was buried in Trachee de Mecknes Cemetary in the Pas de Calais in France. In his military will, he left everything he possessed to his mother.

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