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 June 10th

Forster, Thomas Burton

Date of Birth
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Capt. John Burton Forster, 1st Royal Irish Regiment, and Olive Edith Mary nee Sergent. Married Florence Elizabeth Johnston at Winnipeg, 24th March 1908 and they had a daughter, Florence Olive May Burton-Forster, born 13th April 1904. His will dated 18 January 1915 left everything to his wife at Vancouver. Applied for a commission 9 February 1915: rancher, address Melrose, Ash Valley, Surrey. His wife’s address was PO Box 123, White Earth, Minnesota, or Cathedral, 121 Cathedral Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
War Office telegram to Major-General Forster, Staff Corps, Commanding 57th West Lancashire Division, Canterbury, advised that his son was wounded 9th June and remained at duty, but was subsequently killed in action 10 June 1916. His widow re-married and was Mrs Gilmour, 646 Walker Avenue, Winnipeg, Canada. History of the Royal Irish Regiment: ‘When the battalion was in the trenches Lt. T.B. Forster and his scouts were out in front each night. On 10th they came under very heavy rifle and machine gun fire and Lt. Forster and three men were wounded. L/Sgt Michael Dreeling carried back L/Cpl Wright, then returned and carried in Lt. Forster and finally again went out under heavy fire to search for L/Cpl Walsh, who was missing and unfortunately could not be found. 2/Lt. Forster, a very promising young officer, died of his wounds shortly after he was carried in.’

Born on June 10th

Connors, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
22338
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Annie Connors nee Troy of 35 William Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Brother of 17934 William Connors.

Dier, Richard Henry

Date of Birth
Service No.
426595
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
16th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France
Other Biographical Details
Son of John R Dier and Eliza Anne nee Watchorn, Gussawn Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Farmer.

Full, Arthur Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Cork
Service No.
9708
Rank
Private
Regiment
Middlesex Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Henry Charles Richard and Ellen Mary Full née Carney. Father was in the Coast Guard.

Stafford, George

Date of Birth
Service No.
4651/B
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Intent
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter and Katherine Stafford nee Ennis of St Helen's, Kilrane. His father was a farmer and a fisherman

Sample Records

Taylor, Godfrey Lovelace

Date of Birth
Address
Grangville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Fleet Surgeon
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Formidable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Sunk by two German torpedoes fired by Submarine U-24 on New Year's Day 38 miles off the Devon Coast.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Godfrey Lovelace Taylor and Dorothea Marie Taylor nee Bruun of Grangeville, Fethard, Co. Wexford.

Cullimore, George Henry

Posed photograph of a young George taken before enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
London
Service No.
20505
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Egypt.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Albert and Elizabeth Teresa Cullimore née Harpur of Clarence House, Wexford. Grandson of Moses Harpur, 57 South Main Street, Wexford. Formerly enlisted in Royal Innisskilling Fusiliers and no. 5101, 1st & 2nd Batt 8th London Regiment. Brother of Joseph Albert Cullimore.

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