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 May 24th

Atkins, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
6885
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Second Battle of Ypres, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Samuel Atkins of South Main Street, Wexford

Farrell, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Green Street, Wexford
Service No.
4602
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Farrell nee Farrell, Stonebridge Lane, Wexford. Husband of Catherine Farrell nee Crosbie, Green Street, Wexford.

Farrell, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Kilrush
Service No.
11666
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Mary Farrell nee Morris of Clohamon, Ferns, Co. Wexford.  His father 6712 Peter Farrell was killed in action 19 October 1914.

Goggin, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
4272
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Catherine Goggin of Mary's Lane, Wexford. Husband of Elizabeth Goggin nee Berry of Wetherheld's Court, Bride Street, Wexford. Married 1905 in Wexford. All children born in Wexford

Hall, Nathaniel James

Date of Birth
Alias
James Joseph Hall
Address
Green Street, Wexford
Service No.
10735
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip and Bridget Hall nee Sullivan, John Street, Wexford. His mother died at Roche's Terrace, Wexford, from puerperal septicaemia 5 September 1897. His father married Mary Ellen Bale 22 October 1900 and they resided at 4 Carrigeen Street, Wexford.

Kehoe, John

Address
Bewley Street, New Ross
Service No.
10137
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders

Kelly, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Tagoat
Service No.
5943
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Anne Kelly née Kavanagh. Brother of Mark 5870 above.

Kinsella, Michael

Address
Campile, Co.Wexford
Service No.
6812
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Magaret Kinsella of Fisherstown, Campile. Husband of Catherine Kinsella of Kilmanock, Campile, Co.Wexford.

Larkin, James

Address
Sallystown, Co.Wexford.
Service No.
8120
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr John Larkin, D.C., Sallystown, Murrintown. 

Monaghan, Bernard

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon, Enniscorthy
Service No.
4087
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders. Gas poisoning at the front.
Other Biographical Details
Article in a Wexford newspaper. Son of Thomas and Mary Anne Monaghan née Neill.

Born on May 24th

D'arcy, Myles

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
26912
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Myles and Elizabeth D'arcy nee Ryan.

Gannon, James

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Rank
Boatswain
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Beacon Light (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS Beacon Light was attacked by a German Submarine.
Other Biographical Details
Son of the late Thomas and Martha Gannon nee Hughes. Husband of Margaret Gannon of 47 South Chester Street, Liverpool.

Sample Records

White, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
177 The Faythe, Wexford.
Service No.
9511
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Nicholas and Mary Ann White née Doyle. Mother widowed in 1903, returned to Wexford and remarried to Michael Kavanagh, The Faythe (and later of Byrnes Lane). Effects to his mother. Lived with his mother and step-father in the Faythe and worked as a Messenger Boy aged 13 in 1911.

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

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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