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

Carty, John

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
1656S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Monmouth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. Monmouth wa sunk in a Naval action in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile, South America
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr. Philip Carty of Trinity Street, Wexford.

Smith, James

Photo of Jamse Smith as a young boy. cira 1900.
Date of Birth
Alias
Smyth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
12504
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds. Wound to the head from shell at Beaumont Hamel 01.07.1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anastatia Smith née Saunders of Wexford.
James Smith and Anastatia Saunders were married in Wexford where they had three children.  They left Wexford for Liverpool around 1882, where their son Michael was born.  They returned to Wexford around 1885. James was born in 1890.

His Battalion was part of 87 Brigade, 29th Division that attacked Beaumont Hamel 01/07/1916.  This is likely when James was wounded in the head by a shell.  He was evacuated to Sunderland Infirmary where his sister Bridget took care of him until he died 29/07/1916.
James is buried alongside his brother , Michael in Ford cemetery, Liverpool. 

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

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