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 12th

Millar, James Joseph Francis

Date of Birth
Address
Rockfield', Spawell Road, Wexford
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Germany
Other Biographical Details
Son of Samuel and Julia Millar nee Hayes of Wexford. Husband of Mary Josephine Millar of 'Rockfield' Spawel Road, Wexford.

Born on June 12th

Murphy, Martin

Date of Birth
Address
27 Oldfield Road, Cumberland Basin, Bristol
Service No.
Bristol Z/1731
Rank
Signalman
Regiment
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
HMS Paxton
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
His vessel was torpedoed.
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Mary Ellen Murphy nee Cullen of 27 Oldfield Road, Cumberland Basin, Bristol. Native of Wexford. Article in a Wexford newspaper.

O’rourke, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kildare
Service No.
S/6702
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Rifle Brigade
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Anne Rourke née Walsh. Sole legatee was his brother Martin

Sample Records

Flanagan Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Bullawn, Co. Wexford
Service No.
21651
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Flanagan nee Bolger of 13 Bullawn, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Dempsey, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
5752A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Goliath was torpedoed in the Dardanelles
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Dempsey of Bride St, Wexford.

Rennison, Walter Martyn

Date of Birth
Address
The Rectory, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of the Revd Chancellor Henry Rennison and Mrs Kate Louisa Rennison née Palmer of The Rectory, Wexford.  Formally a medical student in Trinity College, Dublin prior to enlistment.

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