Wexford Great War Dead

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.

About

The Records

About

Contact Us

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.

Born on February 11th

Allen, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth

Sunday February 11th 1883

Service No.

3623B

Rank

Seaman

Regiment

Royal Naval Reserve

HMS Goliath

Date of Death

Thursday May 13th 1915

Circumstances of Death

HMS Goliath was sunk in Morto Bay off Cape Helles by three torpedoes from an Ottoman destroyer

Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Catherine Allen of New Ross. Widow Marianne at 8 Derby Road, Weaste, Manchester.

Miller, Joseph

Date of Birth

Friday February 11th 1887

Address

Beverly, West Australia.

Service No.

6297

Rank

Private

Regiment

Australian Infantry

16th Battalion

Date of Death

Sunday July 8th 1917

Circumstances of Death

Shot by the Germans while breaking out of Prison camp.

Other Biographical Details

Husband of Lurline Meroula Miller, 3 Brown Street, Subiaco, West Australia. Son of Richard and Winifred Miller née Reilly

Sample Records

Barron, William

Date of Birth

Saturday January 7th 1893

Address

Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.

Service No.

2842A

Rank

Seaman

Regiment

Royal Naval Reserve

HMS Goliath

Date of Death

Thursday May 13th 1915

Circumstances of Death

Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.

Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)