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 January 3rd

Connolly, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
The Faythe, Wexford
Service No.
1394U
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Pheasant
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. Lost his life at sea
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Elizabeth Connolly of The Faythe, Wexford. Left five children

Dunne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Parnell Street, Wexford
Service No.
371340
Rank
Company Sergeant Major
Regiment
London Regiment
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Cambridge Hospital, Aldershot, Hampshire
Other Biographical Details

Son of Colour-Sergeant Thomas Dunne. Married Kate Delaney in Wexford, 17 October 1904

Moran, John

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
13718
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Mary Anne Moran of 7 Windmill Lane, New Ross, Co.Wexford.Son of James and Anastasia Moran née Long.

Born on January 3rd

Browne, Martin

Date of Birth
Rank
Mate
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SV Mary Fanny
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick & Mary Browne née Staunton, Brogue Lane New Ross. his father was a shoemaker. On September 15th, 1918, Mary Fanny, a British sailing vessel of 94 tons, was sunk by the German submarine UB-64 (Ernst Krieger), 14 miles ESE from the Codling Bank https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?157146 Ship was sunk north of Wexford coastline. 

Connors, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
8689
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in No 2 Stationary Hospital, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Annie Connors nee Dunne of Mile House, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Ryan, Peter Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Service No.
3775
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
57th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of gas poisoning in the 50th Casualty Clearing Station based in Tincourt, Boucly, France. Husband of Mrs McCarthy (remarried), Corries, Bagenalstown, Co.Carlow
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Cathrine Ryan née Edwards, Oylegate, Wexford. of Killoughtemane Corries, Bagenalstown, Co.Carlow. Brother of John Ryan, 32 Hobson Street, Victoria. Mother Mrs McCarthy (remarried)

Wallace, Mark

Date of Birth
Service No.
10425
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Arras France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Bryan and Annie Wallace née Kearns of Cullenstown, Bannow.

Sample Records

Harte-Maxwell, Percival

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
Attached 1st Royal Irish Rifles
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Samuel and Edith Harte-Maxwell nee Carroll. Worked with Bank of Ireland Enniscorthy for four years prior to enlisting.

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.

Berry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Tullow, Co.Carlow
Service No.
7253
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Margaret Jordan (Formally Berry). Eleven years service before been drafted to Flanders. Had been stationed in India. reported missing after the Battle of Mons. Commemorated on Panel 11 and 12, Le Touret Memorial, France. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Basse.

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