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 November 2nd

French, Robert James

Date of Birth
Address
Rosslare
Service No.
125480
Rank
Petty Officer
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Snaefell
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedo explosion in boiler room off coast of Malta.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Catherine French of Ballyell, Tagoat. On 31 May 1918, Snaefell sailed from Alexandria for Malta escorted by a sloop and two armed trawlers. On the evening of 3 June 1918 the Snaefell was struck amidships in the boiler space by a torpedo from the German submarine UB-105 (Wilhelm Marschall), 240 miles East-Southeast of Malta. The ship remained afloat for an hour before sinking, allowing time to rescue all. Three lives were lost in the torpedo explosion.

Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?164959

Mc Grath, Martin

Date of Birth
Service No.
265797
Rank
Private
Regiment
Scottish Rifles
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Egypt
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Julia McGrath nee Bennett of 8 Bishop Street, Anderston, Glasgow.

Born on November 2nd

Doyle, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
5367B
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Laurentic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Laurentic was sunk by a mine en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Annie Doyle nee Parle of Ballyhealy, Kilmore, Co.Wexford. 

French, Robert James

Date of Birth
Address
Rosslare
Service No.
125480
Rank
Petty Officer
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Snaefell
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedo explosion in boiler room off coast of Malta.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Catherine French of Ballyell, Tagoat. On 31 May 1918, Snaefell sailed from Alexandria for Malta escorted by a sloop and two armed trawlers. On the evening of 3 June 1918 the Snaefell was struck amidships in the boiler space by a torpedo from the German submarine UB-105 (Wilhelm Marschall), 240 miles East-Southeast of Malta. The ship remained afloat for an hour before sinking, allowing time to rescue all. Three lives were lost in the torpedo explosion.

Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?164959

Hayes, Robert

Date of Birth
Alias
CANNING, Robert
Service No.
19483
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Grenadier Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Hayes. He was raised by his grandparents Patrick and Ann Hayes of Kilmannon Little, Cleristown, Co. Wexford.

Leared, Frank Harvey

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
1443
Rank
Trooper
Regiment
1st King Edward's Horse
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds
Other Biographical Details
2.11.1876, Son of Mr Richard Hughes Leared and Mrs Sarah Mary Leared née Boxwell of Glenville, Wexford.

Newsom, William Henry

Date of Birth
Address
7 John Street, Enniscorthy
Service No.
80213
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
13th Hussars
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Influenza
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Bridget Newsom of 7 John Street, Enniscorthy.

Sample Records

Buttle, Albert Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Annie Buttle of Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. His father, John was Director of Messrs. Buttle Bros & Co. Ltd, Bacon Curers and Merchants. Albert was educated in Newtown School, Waterford and Model School, Enniscorthy. Enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st April 1915. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Bn. Took part in the Battles of the Somme in July 1916 and was invalided home in January 1917. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 1917. Was offered a medical discharge being medically unfit, but volunteered again and rejoined his regiment in France on 29th May 1918. A casualty of the Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 Sept – 2 Oct 1918). Buried in Haringhe Military Cemetery.

Murphy, Moses

Sepia head and shoulders photograph in uniform
Date of Birth
Alias
Mogue Murphy
Address
Duke Street, Wexford
Service No.
2290
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Daniel and Anastasia Murphy nee Connors. Husband of Catherine Murphy nee Kenny of Duke Street, Wexford. They had five children: Bridget 1907, John 1908, Margaret 1910, Daniel 1913, and Aidan 1916. Buried at Tancrez Farm Cemetery in Belgium.

Reville, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
2410B
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Laurentic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Laurentic ship was sunk off the Irish coast, hit a mine at Fanad Head en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mrs Teresa Reville nee Butler of The Faythe, Wexford. His father was a shoemaker. His brothers Matthew, Nicholas and Joseph also served with the Royal Navy during the war.

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