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 5th

Murphy, Henry Arthur

Address
Bridge Row, Gorey.
Service No.
5266
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Egypt
Other Biographical Details
Son of Bandsmaster Murphy. Husband of Elizabeth Murphy of Bridge Row, Gorey. Article from a Wexford newspaper 1915.

Patrick Roach

Date of Birth
Address
5 St. Michael's Street, New Ross, Wexford.
Rank
Greaser
Regiment
Mercantile Marine Reserve
HMS Orotava
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned-Slipped off Dock on approaching gangway when returning to ship from leave at 10.45pm.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Matthew and Margaret Roach. Next of kin at time of death was his Brother of 5 St. Michael Street, New Ross, Wexford. Buried on the 9th November 1917 in Saint Kentigen's Catholic Cemetery, Lockburn, Maryhill, Glasgow, Lanarkshire. (Grave IX 477) .

https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Orotava.htm

Thumpton, John Alias Thumpkin

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
308920
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Air Force
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Influenza in Blandford, Dorset
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Sarah Thumpkin née Foster forerly Kavanagh. Served as Thumpton

Born on November 5th

Byrne, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Lived in Wygram, Wexford. (also lived in Waterloo Road and Upper John Street.)
Service No.
1900
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the Third Battle of Ypres, Flanders (Jul 31, 1917 – Nov 10, 1917).
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Sarah Byrne, (nee Lacey) Wygram, Wexford. Step Mother Margaret Byrne (nee Roche) at John Street, Wexford. Thomas was an apprentice moulder in a local foundry at the time of the Wexford Lockout 1911. His body was never recovered. He is memorialised on panel 33, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Farrell, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Kilrush
Service No.
11666
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Mary Farrell nee Morris of Clohamon, Ferns, Co. Wexford.  His father 6712 Peter Farrell was killed in action 19 October 1914.

Froyne, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
344572
Rank
Shipwright 2nd Class
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Roxburgh
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease in Devonport
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Froyne nee O'Sullivan. His father, a member of the Coast Guard, died at Midleton, Co. Cork. Married Mary 'Minnie' O'Shea at Midleton, 8th January 1914. Widow at Ballick, Midleton.

Sample Records

Esmonde, John Henry Grattan

John Henry Grattan Esmonde
Date of Birth
Rank
Midshipman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Invincible
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Invincible was sunk during the battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, Bart. (former Chairman Wexford Co. Co.) M.P. and Alice Barbara Donovan of Ballynastragh, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)

Brehon, Richard Colles

Date of Birth
Address
14 Newtown or Commons, New Ross
Service No.
114383
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Mounted Rifles
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ypres (Ieper), Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders. Killed at the Battle of Mont Sorrel (Battle of Hill 62, 2 to 13 June 1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Colles and Anne Brehon, listed in 1901 Census in New Ross, Co. Wexford, as a gentleman farmer and a member of the Irish Church.

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