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 June 6th

Breen, James

Date of Birth
Address
Ballygarett, Co. Wexford
Service No.
10181
Rank
Acting Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 1 Australian Casualty Clearing Station
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Bridget Breen née Byrne, both born in Co. Wexford. His father worked as a coachman. On the death of his mother from chronic pneumonia at Ballyminane, Co. Wexford in January 1901, he, his father and brother John moved to his grandfathers's farm in Mangan Lower, Ballygarrett, Co. Wexford.  His father died from tuberculosis on 18th May, 1901. In 1911 James was working as a grocer's apprentice in Ballygarrett. He enlisted before the beginning of the war in August 1913.

Cullen, Thomas

Date of Birth
Alias
Murphy, Thomas
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8926
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Mary Cullen nee Brien of 20 Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Served as Thomas Murphy. Brother of 10614 Maurice Cullen and 8112 Myles Cullen.

Born on June 6th

Clinch, James Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
6955
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Anastasia Clinch nee Hendrick, Ballylusk. Brother of John Clinch, 619 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland and Christopher Clinch, Ballylusk, Templeshambo, Ferns.

Dixon, Alexander

Date of Birth
Address
68 Alexander Street, Mt Lawley
Service No.
252
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
16th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Grace A. Dixon of Lake Brown, Nungarin, Western Australia. Son of William and Anne Dixon née Hempenstall

Doyle, Francis

Date of Birth
Alias
Frank Doyle
Service No.
PLY/16787
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed at Jutland on board HMS Indefatigable.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Katherine Doyle nee Fortune of 3 Castle Terrace, Phibsborough, Dublin.

Dwyer, Denis

Date of Birth
Service No.
10864
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 James and Mary Anne Dwyer née Fitzpatrick

Nolan, Martin

Date of Birth
Service No.
16565
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Fusiliers
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from a cerebral haemorrhage at Back Street, Wexford, age 36.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Mary Nolan née Redmond, John Street, Wexford. Widow Annie née Stafford at Back Street, Wexford. Brother of Patrick Nolan 16489

Sample Records

Forde, Frank

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
26437
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back to the trenches for medical attention.
Other Biographical Details

Born John Francis, son of John and Margaret Forde nee Rourke.  His father, born in Co. Galway, was a constable in the RIC and later an insurance agent. His mother was born in Co. Wexford. Later resided at Patrick Square, Wexford.
A clerical worker in the Pierce Ironworks Foundry in Wexford, Frank joined up aged 16. In early August 1916, he arrived in France and fought at the Battle of the Somme. However, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday, Frank was grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back from the trenches for medical attention. His platoon commander, Lieutenant A.W. Henchy wrote to Frank's parents and called him 'a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud'. Frank was buried in Trachee de Mecknes Cemetary in the Pas de Calais in France. In his military will, he left everything he possessed to his mother.

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.

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.

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