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 April 12th

Hatchell, Nicholas

Date of Birth
Address
Dodd's Lane, Wexford.
Service No.
15022
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Catherine 'Kate' Hatchell nee Dunn. Married Margaret Colfer in 1906. His widow was later Mrs Margaret Atkinson of 3 Fleming's Court, Castle Lane, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. 

Merriman, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Kilcannon, Enniscorthy
Service No.
7974
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Anne Merriman née Carney 

O’rourke, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kildare
Service No.
S/6702
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Anne Rourke née Walsh. Sole legatee was his brother Martin

Spencer, William

Date of Birth
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Toro
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by U55 on route to Hull.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Spencer nee Walker 18 Probys Row, Arklow, Co Wicklow. On April 12th, 1917, SS Toro, on a voyage from Alexandria to Hull with general cargo, was sunk by the German submarine U-55 (Wilhelm Werner), 200 miles WNW of Ushant (Ouessant). 14 persons were lost. Remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, UK.

Born on April 12th

Furlong, John

Date of Birth
Address
Rowe Street, Wexford
Service No.
31273
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at 43rd General Hospital, Salonica, Greece
Other Biographical Details

Son of Francis and Mary Furlong nee Duff, Duke Street, Wexford. Husband of Elizabeth Jane Furlong of Rose Villa, Alfred Parade, St James, Bristol

Keenan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Arklow, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
3366
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Annie Keenan née Doyle.

Sample Records

John Michael Grogan

Date of Birth
Service No.
9444
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

He was 61629 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1912 and served in Gorey. Son of 7663 Constable William Grogan, Dublin Metropolitan Police, and Bridget nee Ryder. His brother Christopher, 5 Parnell Street, Dublin, was sole legatee. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

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.

Sherwood, Richard Atwell

Date of Birth
Address
7 Parnell Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9220 (7220 Pension Record)
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Esther Victoria Sarah Sherwood née Atwell, ex-R.I.C. Sergeant, 7 Parnell Street, Wexford. Brother of John above. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) in France.

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