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 March 15th

Doyle, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford.
Service No.
10346
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Doyle nee Walsh of South Main Street, Wexford. 

Reilly, John

Service No.
3975
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 Patrick and Mary Reilly of Kiltrea, Enniscorthy. Ennicorthy Guardian article.

Sinnott, William

Address
Ennisbury
Service No.
8846
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 Myles and Katie Sinnott of Pembroke Cottages, Donnybrook, Dublin.

Born on March 15th

Connors, Denis

Date of Birth
Alias
O'Connor
Address
24 Ross Road, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
3/5926 and 5926
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Thomas (butcher by trade), foreman in Messrs Buttle Brothers victualing establishment, and Bridget Connors née Carty of 24 Ross Road, Enniscorthy. Grave at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belguim.

Healy, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Batt Street, Wexford
Service No.
4742
Rank
Unknown
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Mr Michel Healy.  Son of Michael and Mary Healy née Walsh

Moran, John

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
13718
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Mary Anne Moran of 7 Windmill Lane, New Ross, Co.Wexford.Son of James and Anastasia Moran née Long.

Sample Records

Ennis, James

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
7470
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Margaret Ennis nee Handley of 6 Upper King Street, Wexford. 

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.

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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