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 1st

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.

Farmer, Francis Harry

Date of Birth
Address
Swindon
Service No.
31367
Rank
Private
Regiment
Devonshire Regiment
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Richard and Sarah Jane Farmer nee Rigby of 18 Regent Place, Swindon, Wilts. Father was a Coast Guard Officer

Forrestal, David

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon, Enniscorthy
Service No.
3517
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Bridget Forrestal nee O'Connor of The Shannon, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. 

Goodwin, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
J/2496
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Monmouth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Monmouth was lost with all hands at Coronel in the Pacific.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Mary Goodwin nee Kavanagh of Loughgunnen, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford.  Commemorated Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Kavanagh, William

Date of Birth
Address
Cloneranny, Co. Wexford
Service No.
1258
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Elizabeth Kavanagh nee Kenny, Cloneranny, Castletown. His mother died in 1888. Siblings were Denis, James and Patrick. Stepson of Anne Kavanagh.

Leary, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
SS101169
Rank
Stoker 1st Class
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Good Hope
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Margaret Leary nee Connors of Shannon, Enniscorthy. Husband of Bridget Leary nee Hendrick of 4 Patrick St. Enniscorthy.

Mernagh, James

Service No.
21202
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Margaret Mernagh of Upper Mary Street, New Ross.

Walsh, James Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
England
Rank
Fleet Surgeon
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Good Hope
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick James Walsh. Husband of Eveline Mary Walsh, nee Pennell 44 Worthing Road, Southsea. His son Lt. Geoffrey Pennell Walsh, 2nd Sherwood Foresters was KIA 09081915

Born on November 1st

John Michael Grogan

Date of Birth
Service No.
9444
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

He was 61629 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1912 and served in Gorey. Son of 7663 Constable William Grogan, Dublin Metropolitan Police, and Bridget nee Ryder. His brother Christopher, 5 Parnell Street, Dublin, was sole legatee. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Sample Records

Roche, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross
Service No.
10309
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Stasia Roche of Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross. Photograph in the Enniscorthy Guardian. Son of Luke and Anastasia Roche nee Waters. His father was a labourer.

Kenealy VC, William Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs
Service No.
1809
Rank
Lance Sergeant
Regiment
Lancashire Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Gallipoli. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Gully Ravine on 28 June 1915 and died the next day.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Colour-Sergeant John & Margaret Kenealy nee Davis, Bolton Rd. Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs. Born 38 Parnell Street, Wexford. Kenealy is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

— The London Gazette (No. 29273), 24 August 1915

Stafford, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
161 Iveagh Building, 25, New Bride Street, Dublin
Service No.
14896
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Missing in Action Gallipoli campaign presumed dead.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Stafford née Keegan. Husband of Gertrude Stafford née Moore of 161 Iveagh Building, 25 New Bride Street, Dublin.  Served in India and the Boer War Campaign. Was employed in Guinness' and appears on the Guinness Great War Roll of Honour. His final rank was Lance-Corporal - promoted in the field. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial monument, Gallipoli, Turkey. 

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