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 December 18th

Comerford, Laurence

Date of Birth
Address
5 Presentation Row, Waterford
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Coningbeg (Glasgow)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by German Submarine U-62
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Catherine Comerford née Foley. Son of Catherine Comerford and the late Patrick Comerford. Husband of Anastasia Comerford of 5 Presentation Row, Waterford. Brother of Able Seaman Patrick Comerford who drowned in 1941.

Hornick, Augustus

Date of Birth
Alias
Hawnick
Service No.
4299117
Rank
Private
Regiment
Labour Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Home
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of William Thomas and Mary Anne Hornick nee Edmonds of Wexford.

Hornick, John Augustus

Date of Birth
Address
40 Abbey Street, Wexford.
Service No.
429917
Rank
Private
Regiment
Labour Corps
296th Labour Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Dundee Military Hospital, Scotland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Thomas and Mary Anne Hornick nee Edmonds, Abbey Street, Wexford. His father was a master gardener.

Whitty, Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
31 Roanmore Road, Ballybricke, Waterford
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Conningbeg (Glasgow)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by German Submarine U-62.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and the late Anastasia Whitty nee Hennessy. Husband of Margaret Whitty of 31 Roanmore Road, Ballybricke, Waterford.

Born on December 18th

Daly, James ,J.

Date of Birth
Service No.
1986
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Daly nee Connolly of Irishtown, New Ross. Brother of 2130 Joseph Daly.

Doyle, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
70 Dryden Street, Liverpool
Rank
Leading Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lusitania (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Lusitania was sunk by German Submarine U-20.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurance and the late Ann Doyle (née Hayes). Husband of Bridget Doyle née Kelly of 70 Dryden Street, Liverpool. Commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial.  Brother of John who also died on the SS Lusitania.

Evoy, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Paradise Row, Wexford.
Service No.
5632
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Evoy nee Moore

Keane, John

Date of Birth
Address
Holman Hill
Service No.
40461
Rank
Private
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Catherine 'Kate' Keane nee Quinn. His father was a stonemason.

Potts, Edward Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
33 Upper John Street, Wexford
Service No.
9062
Rank
Private
Regiment
Kings Liverpool Regiment
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Potts nee Brien of 33 Upper John Street, Wexford. 
3 sons killed. A 4th son, Thomas (Royal Naval Reserve) survived the War.

Sample Records

Sweetman, Michael James Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Samberton Park, Richmond, Limerick.
Service No.
9980
Rank
Major
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds - Ctesiphon, Bagdad, Iraq
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael James and Margaret Sweetman nee Powell, Lamberton Park, Queens County.  Educated - Downside, London University, Sandhurst
Retired - prior to WWI. In 1914 he Returned to the colors (Worcestershire Regt.)
1914 - Wounded and M.I.D. in Flanders at Polygon Wood in October and was awarded 1914 Star and Bar, Victory Medal.
Attached - 2nd Dorset Regt for Persian Gulf Expedition (2ND in command)
Became Commanding Officer of 2nd Dorsetshire when Major, Acting Lt.Col. Radcliffe was wounded.
Led successful attacks on Turkish Redoubts during Battle of Ctesiphon. He was Mortally wounded during Battle when he was shot in the groin while leading his men at Ctesiphon.  Despite his injury he stayed with them.  He was evacuated after the battle on a hospital ship on the Tigris but died 3 days later before they reached Kut.
He is the 2nd Oldest person buried at Kut War Cemetary.

Major Sweetman had three sisters, all published authors (2 novelists and a Poet). His brother-in-law was Egerton Castle... author, swordsmen, captain of the epee and saber team at the 1908 Olympics. His uncle was John Sweetman was one of the founders of and 2nd President of Sinn Fein.

The Sweetman family were brewers but sold their brewery to Guinness in 1893.

He was put up for the D.S.O. three times.  All were downgraded to M.I.D. Buried Grave L9, Kut War Cemetery, Iraq.

Merriman, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in uniform, seated.
Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
3183
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Gallipolli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Merriman nee Murphy of 52 Faythe Street, Wexford. 

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.

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