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 July 7th

Cash, Thomas

Address
Screen
Service No.
666 and G/666
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr. John Cash, D.C. Ballyrouan, Screen

Kearns, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
5766
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Salonika
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Mary Kearns née Hamilton. Married Anastasia Roche 1913.

Born on July 7th

Farmar, Ralph Jasper Newell

Date of Birth
Service No.
12462
Rank
Private
Regiment
South African Infantry
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Captain William Henry Farmar JP and Frances Anastasia Farmar nee Barron, of Bloomfield, Enniscorthy. Also served in South Africa (1896) (1899-1902) and in German East Africa (1915-1916).

Legge, John Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Andover, Hants
Service No.
5774
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Glamorganshire County Aslyum while in service.
Other Biographical Details
Son of the late John and Margeret Legge nee Stafford. His father was a RIC sub constable. Husband of Edith Annie Legge of Bridge House, Upper Clatford, Andover, Hants.buired in Bridgeend Cemetery.

Sample Records

Smyth, Michael

Date of Birth
Alias
Smith (Born)
Address
73 New Hedley Street, Boundary Street, Liverpool
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine Reserve
HM Yacht Jason 2
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in the Naval hospital in Southampton
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anastatia Smith née Saunders of Wexford.
James Smith and Anastatia Saunders were married in Wexford where they had three children.  They left Wexford for Liverpool around 1882, where Michael was born.  They returned to Wexford around 1885. 
The 1911 Census shows the family at living in the Faythe.
Michael was husband to Mary Elizabeth Smyth née Finnegan of 73 New Hedley Street, Boundary Street, Liverpool. They married in Liverpool in 1906.  (Name spelt Smyth.)  He was an able seaman aboard the “HMS Wallington” when he died in the Naval hospital in Southampton 04/11/1917.  HMS Wallington was the Auxiliary Patrol base at Immingham from 6/11/1915. (It was a depot ship on the River Humber, with the work and administration being done in the Old Custom House, Grimsby and berthed at Immingham.)
Michael is buried in Ford (Roman Catholic) Cemetery in Liverpool.
His brother James served with 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers. No: 12504.

Tottenham, Edward Lowry

Date of Birth
Address
Slaney Hall, Enniscorthy.
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action Basra, Iraq
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lowry Cliffe Loftus and Isabella Ogle Tottenham, The Grange, Moy, Co. Tyrone. His father Lowry Cliffe Loftus Tottenham was a former Royal Irish Constabulary district inspector who retired to Moy. He was educated at St. Bee's School, Cumberland, and entered the Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, in 1914. He belonged to both School and College O.T.C., and on the outbreak of the war he volunteered for service. He joined the Lowland Division at Stirling and was subsequently given a commission in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. He was transport officer for some time and then joined the 6th Battalion in Egypt. He served in the battles of 5th and 6th April when the 13th Division captured the Turkish positions in Mesopotamia, and at the repulse at Sanna-y-Hat on 9th April was reported missing and subsequently reported killed on that day.

Monaghan, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
3186
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth Monaghan nee Nolan of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Thomas is one of four brothers serving in the army.
Memorial Reference: Panel 185 - 190, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

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