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.

About

The Records

About

Contact Us

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 April 27th

Byrne, Garrett

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyfad, Co. Wexford
Service No.
10096
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on V Beach (one of five main landing areas) two days after the Gallipoli landings.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter & Mary Byrne of Rathpierce Cottage, Ballyfad, Gorey. Byrne was one of the first waves of soldiers that came ashore with Royal Dublin and Royal Munster Fusiliers at Cape Helles on 25th April 1915. V Beach Cemetery, Turkey.

Kavanagh, Martin

Date of Birth
Address
Shanahona, Macmine
Service No.
27704
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from gas poisoning in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Johanna Kavanagh nee Cosgrave, Lambstown, Shanahona, Macmine, Co. Wexford. Formerly served as 11272 Private in the Royal Irish Regiment. His brother 10519 Private James Kavanagh, Irish Guards, died 27 February 1918.

Murphy, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Service No.
27700
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action by gas in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of George and Mary Murphy née Keating. All the family were born in Wexford except Albert. Lived in Wexford since infancy. Named as Albert G. on the Census.

Born on April 27th

Caulfield, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Largs, Ayrshire
Service No.
12901
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Scots Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Bridget Caulfield nee Kenny, Coolroe. Wife Mary

Liebermann, Frederick Victor

Date of Birth
Service No.
8197
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Australian Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Mutilation Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of Adolf and Anna Eliza Liebermann née Farrell of 33 Russell Street, Camberwell, Melbourne. His father was a professor of languages Brother of Gertrude Ellen Lieberman of Broadway, Camberwell, Victoria.

Mcclean, William

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8815
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mrs Alice McClean of 437 West Derby Road, Liverpool.

Sample Records

Brown, Nicholas

Date of Birth
Alias
Browne
Address
King Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9653
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Sarah Brown née Howlin. His father was a Baker by trade.  Originally joined the 1st Batt, Royal Irish Rangers in 1908 and had served in India. Sent to France in 1914 at the outbreak of war. Buried in strand Military Cemetery, Belgium.  Died one month after Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915) in which 1st Royal Irish, serving in 27th Division, were a part. Served in Connaught Rangers before war.

Cullimore, Joseph Albert

Date of Birth
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Albert and Elizabeth Teresa Cullimore nee Harpur of Clarence House, Wexford. Grandson of Moses Harpur, 57 South Main Street, Wexford. Brother of George Henry Cullimore.

Browne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9663
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr J. Browne of Green St, Wexford. Buried Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines, France. Served as a machine gunner - killed while manning the machine gun in a defensive position.

Explore the Records