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 October 29th

Middleton, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Liverpool.
Service No.
5866
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders while a POW
Other Biographical Details
Son of Tomas and Mary Middleton née Hennessy. Mother at 23 Arlington Street, Liverpool.

Neill, Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
6369
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Enniscorthy guardian article 1915. Son of Mrs Neill, Island Road, Enniscorthy. Son of John Henry and Mary Grace Neill née Mitchell. Brother of John below.

Reid, William John

Date of Birth
Service No.
2073
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Australian Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds to the head and abdomen in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of George and Georgina Reid nee Tomkins, Bridgetown

Born on October 29th

Browne, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
S/341
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Rifle Brigade
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Flers–Courcelette (15–22 September 1916), France, during the First Battle of the Somme.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Mary Browne née Byrne. 

Doyle, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
9918
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Doyle nee Fortune of Kilanerin, Gorey, Co. Wexford

Leo, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
Liverpool
Service No.
11095
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Kings Liverpool Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in India
Other Biographical Details
Son of Francis John and Margaret Leo née Doyle.

Sutton, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
2542.S.
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Son of Adam and Mary Sutton née Dempsey. Mother: Mary, Ballymore, Camolin, Co.Wexford. The son of Adam and Mary Sutton née Dempsey. His father was a shopkeeper. The 1901 Census shows children present were Mary Anne (22), Patrick (21), Kate (20), Michael (18, a carpenter), and Thomas (12).

Sample Records

Toole, David Frederick Jack

Date of Birth
Alias
Jack
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
49th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

 

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe.

Brother of Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole died 15.09.1916.

Buried: Ontario Cemetery, Sains-les-Marquion, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Farrell, Robert

Date of Birth
Alias
Robert Murphy
Address
Duke Street, Wexford
Service No.
3739
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Mrs Teresa Murphy nee Dwyer, Duke Street, Wexford. When they married in 1910, Robert was aged 24 and did not provide the name of his father. His widow married Patrick Frazer in 1919.

Cheevers, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Campile, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
14122
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Kings Liverpool Regiment
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Cheevers nee Hanlon of Horeswood, Campile, Wexford.

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