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 16th

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Address
Belfast
Service No.
13545
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Scots Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders. Commemorated on Menin Gate, Ypres.
Other Biographical Details

Died three week after Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May 1915) in which 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers, serving in 28th Division, were a part. Husband of Mary C. Doherty (formerly Brien) 0f 46 Colinward Street, Springfield Road, Belfast.

Born on June 16th

Maguire, Matthew Lawrence

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Turkish hands
Other Biographical Details

Son of James Maguire, J.P. and of Dora Maguire nee Gahan of Tomgar House, Ballycanew, Gorey. Formerly Connaught Rangers.

Mercer, Samuel Alexander

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/552234, also 168453
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details
Son of George and Anna Rebecca Mercer nee Clarke of Gorey.

Sample Records

Murphy, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. High forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Address
3 Well Lane, Wexford
Service No.
4319
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at St. Eloi, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Nicholas and Jane Murphy. Husband of Mary Ann Murphy of 3 Well Lane, Wexford. Private Murphy had been in the army for a number of years serving in both India and South Africa. He had two children.
No known grave but remembered on Panel 33, Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

 

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.

Sikes, Richard Herbert

Posed studio photo of a young Richard Sikes taken prior to enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
2 Park View, Wellington Road, Cork
Rank
Sub Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Howe Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the Western Front
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Cherry Sikes and Susanna Lecky Sikes 2 Parkview Wellington Rd. Cork. In 1914 he joined the Royal Fusiliers and spent a winter in the trenches.  He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was in command of a company in the Howe Battalion. Sub Lieutenant Richard Herbert Sikes is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France and the War Memorial in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork. Buried at Bay 1. Arras Memorial, Department du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

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