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 July 12th

Connors, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
8689
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in No 2 Stationary Hospital, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Annie Connors nee Dunne of Mile House, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Evoy, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Paradise Row, Wexford.
Service No.
5632
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Evoy nee Moore

Born on July 12th

McCaul, Stephen James

Date of Birth
Address
991/2 Elm Street, Yonkers, New York, USA.
Service No.
1210683
Rank
Private
Regiment
US Army
Company E, 107 Infantry
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action at Amiens, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Bridget McCaul nee Doyle. 

Whelan, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
7034S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Diana
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct resu;t of an accident
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Margaret Whelan nee Browne of Upper King Street, Wexford.

Sample Records

Kane, John Francis Aloysius

Date of Birth
Address
Saunderscourt, Wexford
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed while flying at Brooklands, London
Other Biographical Details

Third son of John and Mary Kane nee O'Connor, formerly of Saunderscourt, Wexford. Brother Robert Henry.

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)

O’Connor, Thomas

Date of Birth
Alias
Tom
Address
Duncormick, Co.Wexford
Service No.
241768
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Murphy O'Connor of Duncormick, Co.Wexford. Fostered by Tom and Maryanne Moran at Belgrove, Duncormick. After the death of foster mother, Tom lived with Phil Moran and Mary Corish in Duncormick. Left effects to his aunt Miss Mary Moran. Buried (Grave number D18), Fienvillers British Cemetery, Lower Somme, France.

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