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 14th

Brophy, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny
Service No.
5037
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Btn.
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the first day of the Battle of Delville Wood, (14 July – 15 September 1916), First Battle of the Somme.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Mary Brophy of High Street, Graiguenamanagh. No known grave but is listed on Pier and Face 3.A. on the Thiepval Memorial in France. 

Conroy, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
7790
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Annie Conroy née Foley of New Street, Kilkenny.

Kinsella, John

Address
New Ross
Service No.
4866
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Ellen Kinsella of Fairgate, New Ross.

Lawler, William

Address
Tacumshane
Service No.
10409
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Darby and Mrs Bridgid Lawler.

Merner, John Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
5233
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders Died from heart failure in France
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Alice Merner née Pettitt.

Toole, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon, Enniscorthy
Service No.
3930
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Richard and Anne Toole née Byrne. Article in The People 1915

Born on July 14th

Bowles, Robert Charles

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
18662
Rank
Private
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
14th Service Bn.
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds, France. Killed after the disbandment of his battalion.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Jane Bowles née Baird. Formerly served as Private No.19922 in the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Bowles was with the 14th Hampshire's in 39th Division which suffered huge casualties in the Ludendorff/German Spring Offensive.

Buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery in France.

Sample Records

Bolger, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
49878
Rank
Private
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Bolger née Murphy.
His father, John Bolger (2320D) of the HMS Grafton, died as a direct result of enemy action off Suvla, Galipoli, 12th August 1915.

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.

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.

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