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 November 14th

Mcdonald, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballinagran, Courtown Harbour, Gorey
Service No.
76647
Rank
Driver
Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by shell fire, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Article in a Wexford newspaper. Son of John and Bridget McDonald née Sheehan.

Born on November 14th

Devereux, Patrick John

Date of Birth
Address
Moved to New Zealand with parents in 1910
Service No.
Dec-72
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Auckland Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of James T and Jane Devereaux of Glenbrook, Waiku, Aukland. Grandson to Mr John Buttle, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy

Sample Records

Monaghan, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
3186
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth Monaghan nee Nolan of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Thomas is one of four brothers serving in the army.
Memorial Reference: Panel 185 - 190, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

Rogers, Bartholomew

Date of Birth
Address
6 Emmet Place, Wexford
Service No.
2449T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Rogers nee Manning of Emmet Place, Wexford. Husband of Kate Rogers nee Rowe of 6 Emmet Place, Wexford.

Beatty, Charles Harold Longfield

Date of Birth
Address
Borodale, Enniscorthy
Rank
Major
Regiment
Special Lists
Staff
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died Undergoing Surgery, Atherstone, England on 17th May 1917, aged 47.
Other Biographical Details

Eldest son of the late Captain David Longfield and Catherina Edith Beatty [nee Chaine], of Oakfield, Atherstone.  Husband of Lucy Alice Beatty, born c1869 at Western Port, Australia. ADC to General Sir Edwin Alderson, Commander of Canadian Expeditionary Force and attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Older brother of  Admiral of the Fleet David Earl Beatty, P.C., G.C.B. and brother of Captain Richard George Beatty.  https://www.nnwfhs.org.uk/catch-all/first-world-war-centenary-2/men-of-ww1-members-detailed-pages/1355-maj-chl-beatty

 

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