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 August 7th

Carthy, John

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. high forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Alias
Carty
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
18047
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Grave Reference: Special memorial A.1. Cemetery - twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey. He signs himself Carthy in correspondence.

Daly, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
2130
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from rheumatic fever at Fermoy Military Hospital, Co. Cork.
Other Biographical Details

Born in 1894, the son of Thomas and Bridget Daly nee Connolly, Irishtown, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Brother of 1986 James J. Daly.

Lennon, Martin,

Date of Birth
Service No.
5538
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Kate Lennon nee Stafford of Dunganstown, New Ross, Co.Wexford.

Molloy, Valentine

Date of Birth
Address
Tintern, Saltmills
Service No.
287306
Rank
Petty Officer Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Europa I
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Dardanelles
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Annie Molly of Tintern Saltmills, Co.Wexford. Son of Valentine and Kate Molloy nee Murphy of Grange, Fethard, Co.Wexford. 

Murphy, John

Address
Wexford
Service No.
4708
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Mary Murphy of Wexford.

Murphy, Thomas Alias For John Sinnott

Date of Birth
Alias
John Sinnott
Address
Cornmarket, Wexford
Service No.
19233
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Stephen and Ellen Sinnott née Murphy of Cornmarket, Wexford.

O'Connor, Michael James

Address
12 Carmen Street, Caerau, Maesteg, Wales
Service No.
1833
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Ellen Connors née Walsh of Johnstown, Duncormick, Wexford. Effects to his father. Brother of 8281 Patrick Connors.

Born on August 7th

Cooper, John

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
7571
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Cooper née Warren of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Brother of 2273 Michael Cooper.

Martin, Laurence Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Killeshandra, Co. Cavan
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Second son of the Rev. Richard D'Oiler Martin and Mrs . Catherine Mary Martin

Myles, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Mary Street, New Ross
Service No.
K27782
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Genista
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Flower Class Sloop was torpedoed in the North Sea by German Submarine U-57
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter and Margaret Myles nee Curley of Mary Street, New Ross.

Sample Records

Rogers, Bartholomew

Date of Birth
Address
6 Emmet Place, Wexford
Service No.
2449T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Rogers nee Manning of Emmet Place, Wexford. Husband of Kate Rogers nee Rowe of 6 Emmet Place, Wexford.

Maguire, Matthew Lawrence

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Turkish hands
Other Biographical Details

Son of James Maguire, J.P. and of Dora Maguire nee Gahan of Tomgar House, Ballycanew, Gorey. Formerly Connaught Rangers.

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.

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