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 September 1st

Casey, Nicholas

Address
Tramore, Waterford
Service No.
14535
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in India
Other Biographical Details
Formerly served as 3/6740 R Irish Regiment

Leo, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
Liverpool
Service No.
11095
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Kings Liverpool Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in India
Other Biographical Details
Son of Francis John and Margaret Leo née Doyle.

Mcclean, William

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8815
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mrs Alice McClean of 437 West Derby Road, Liverpool.

Mernagh, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
3834
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

 Son of James and Kate Mernagh née Bolger of Enniscorthy. Married Mary Leary of 11 Patrick Street, Enniscorthy on 26.1.1914

Murphy, Richard

Service No.
10016
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William J. Murphy

Rowe, John

Service No.
3668
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Home. Hospital in Warley, Essex
Other Biographical Details
Son of Esther Rowe of Clougeen Foulkesmills, Wexford and the late Nicholas Rowe. Article in a Wexford newspaper.

Tompkins, John

Date of Birth
Address
Back Street, Wexford
Service No.
95072
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Mary Tompkins née Gough of Back Street, Wexford.

Born on September 1st

Cooper, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
2273
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Cooper née Warren, Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Brother of 7571 John Cooper.

Sample Records

White, John

Date of Birth
Address
Johnstown Post Office, Co.Kilkenny
Service No.
2695
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Poelcappelle, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John (RIC stationed in Fethard, Co. Wexford) and Bridget White née Neville. John was a member of the Liverpool Police (No.351) Force prior to the war. Buried  Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, West Flanders, Belgium, Plot VII.F.17

The Battle of Poelcappelle was fought in Flanders, Belgium, on 9 October 1917 by the British Second Army and Fifth Army against the German 4th Army. The battle marked the end of the string of highly successful British attacks in late September and early October, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Canavan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey
Service No.
5872
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Charles and Margaret Canavan née Smith. His father was a Metropolitan police Office. He lived Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey with his uncle James Canavan. He was a Gaelic Leaguer and all Ireland Hornpipe champion in 1906 at the Wexford Feis and again the following year in Wicklow. Buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy , France.

Brien, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
Lightwater, Kilmore, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
5493
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle Le Pilly.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth Brien née Walsh. A career soldier. On death his effects and monies due were divided among his four siblings, brothers Thomas and John O'Brien and sisters Elizabeth McKee & Mary Wills. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais. 

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