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 July 2nd

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Kiltealy, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
19545
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Battle of the Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James (a carpenter by trade) and Bridget Murphy née Breen of Kiltealy.  Brother of James Murphy Junior of Cloroguemore, Kiltealy, Enniscorthy. Buried in Plot 1. Row G, Grave 18 Bertrancourt Military Cemetery. France.

Born on July 2nd

Dwyer, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
228912
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Shark
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed during the Battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Dwyer nee Furlong of 8 Ross Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Keane, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
15021
Rank
Sapper
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from TB at High Street
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mr John and Mary Keane nee Hayes of 4 High Street, Wexford.

O’Connor, James

Date of Birth
Address
Arklow, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
4424
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Loos
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Mary O'Connor née Ronan.

Sample Records

Murphy, Moses

Sepia head and shoulders photograph in uniform
Date of Birth
Alias
Mogue Murphy
Address
Duke Street, Wexford
Service No.
2290
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Daniel and Anastasia Murphy nee Connors. Husband of Catherine Murphy nee Kenny of Duke Street, Wexford. They had five children: Bridget 1907, John 1908, Margaret 1910, Daniel 1913, and Aidan 1916. Buried at Tancrez Farm Cemetery in Belgium.

Roche, James

Date of Birth
Address
15 College Road North, Blundell Sands, Liverpool
Service No.
6701
Rank
Private
Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Agnes Roche nee Rowe, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford. Sole legatee was his sister Mary Kate Roche, 67 Empire Road, Liverpool. Other siblings were Walter, Richard, Patrick, and Ellen.

Smyth, Robert Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns
Service No.
10501
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at Aral Wood, France
Other Biographical Details

De Ruivigny's Roll of Honour. Husband of Sarah, daughter of John Pratt. Son of Frank and Sarah Smyth née Pratt of Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns. At Munfin in the 1911 Census.

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