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 October 23rd

Killingley, Hastings Grevatt

Date of Birth
Address
Whitechurch Vicarage, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin
Service No.
30322/3
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of the Somme on the Ridge at Les Boeufs.
Other Biographical Details
Birth Cert states born in Wexford. Son of Rev. David Francis Killingley [1865 - 24 Feb. 1947] and Belle Charlotte Grevatt Taylor Killingley [1865 - 20 Feb. 1947] who were married in 1893. Rev. Killingley was Rector of Whitechurch, 1900-1941.

Malone, Laurence

Address
New Ross
Service No.
25259
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Mary Malone of Houghton Place, New Ross.

Murphy, Myles Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Johnstown, Clonegal Co.Wexford.
Service No.
5402
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Bridget Murphy of Johnstown. Enniscorthy Guardian article.

Myles, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Mary Street, New Ross
Service No.
K27782
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Genista
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Flower Class Sloop was torpedoed in the North Sea by German Submarine U-57
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter and Margaret Myles nee Curley of Mary Street, New Ross.

Rochford, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
7 William Street, New Ross
Service No.
21661
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Bridget Rochford nee Franey of 7 William Street, New Ross. Brother of Patrick below

Born on October 23rd

Cass, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/42194
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
The son of William and Mary Ann Cass née Davis.

Delaney, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
5202S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action aboard HMS Indefatigable, off Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Delaney nee Rossiter, Cornmarket, Wexford.

Redmond, Peter Paul

Date of Birth
Service No.
136512
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defiance
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease
Other Biographical Details
Sister: Mrs.Mary Douglas, 1934 W47th St, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The son of Thomas and Catherine Redmond née Parle. His father was a labourer.

Sample Records

Porter, William James

Date of Birth
Address
'Elmfield', Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Anne Elizabeth Porter nee Grandy of 'Elmfield' Wexford.

Kenealy VC, William Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs
Service No.
1809
Rank
Lance Sergeant
Regiment
Lancashire Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Gallipoli. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Gully Ravine on 28 June 1915 and died the next day.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Colour-Sergeant John & Margaret Kenealy nee Davis, Bolton Rd. Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs. Born 38 Parnell Street, Wexford. Kenealy is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

— The London Gazette (No. 29273), 24 August 1915

Leigh, Edward

Head and shoulders portrait from press cutting.
Date of Birth
Address
Rosegarland, Co. Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action whilst in command of the battalion near Krithia, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Francis Augustine Leigh, J.P., D.L., formerly 10th Hussars and Mrs Augustine Leigh née Perrier of Rosegarland, Co. Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin. Husband of Mary Meade Leigh, only daughter of Sir John Buchanan, L.L.D., of Clareinch, Claremont, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Served in the South African Campaign and in India, Malta and the British West Indies. He left one son, Edward Buchanan Leigh, born at Vacoas, Mauritius on the 19th June, 1913.

Awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and King's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Explore the Records