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 November 15th

Doyle, James

Date of Birth
Address
Talbot Street, Wexford
Service No.
1385
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from pneumonia at Talbot Street, Wexford
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Alice Doyle nee Byrne, 59 Talbot Street, Wexford.

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

Hayes, Robert

Date of Birth
Alias
CANNING, Robert
Service No.
19483
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Grenadier Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Hayes. He was raised by his grandparents Patrick and Ann Hayes of Kilmannon Little, Cleristown, Co. Wexford.

Born on November 15th

Dempsey, Simon

Date of Birth
Service No.
6282
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Simon and Kate Dempsey née Whitty formerly Byrne. Served as 63393 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1907. Brother of Thomas Dempsey of 'Mountain View', Castle Street, Bray, Co. Wicklow. 

Farrell, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Clohamon, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
6712
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Anne Farrell nee Davis, Clohamon. Husband of Mary Farrell nee Morris of Clohamon, Co. Wexford. Father of 11666 Patrick Farrell.

Sample Records

Rossiter, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
3095A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Hampshire
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Rossiter of William Street, Wexford.

Esmonde, John Henry Grattan

John Henry Grattan Esmonde
Date of Birth
Rank
Midshipman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Invincible
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Invincible was sunk during the battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, Bart. (former Chairman Wexford Co. Co.) M.P. and Alice Barbara Donovan of Ballynastragh, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

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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