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 March 9th

Carroll, Joseph

Address
New Ross
Service No.
270922
Rank
Sapper
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Calais Southern Cemetery in France

Ryan, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
15345
Rank
Private
Regiment
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details
Brother of James A. Ryan, 23 Crosgrove Rd., Queen's Drive, Walton, Liverpool.

Whelan, Matthew

Date of Birth
Service No.
24672 and 3/24672
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in the Balkans
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Annie Whelan nee Whelan of Kiltealy, Enniscorthy.

Born on March 9th

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.

Powell, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Brady's Cross, Bunclody, emigrated to England
Service No.
3525
Rank
Private
Regiment
East Surrey Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Ann Powell née Lawler. Widow Kathleen, later Mrs Lovell. Enniscorthy Guardian article

Sample Records

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)

Esmonde, John Henry Grattan

John Henry Grattan Esmonde
Date of Birth
Rank
Midshipman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Invincible
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Invincible was sunk during the battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, Bart. (former Chairman Wexford Co. Co.) M.P. and Alice Barbara Donovan of Ballynastragh, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

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