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 April 5th

Cullen, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
2847S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Transylvania
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship Transylvania was sunk on 4th May in the Mediterranean by a German torpedo from submarine U63 off Cape Noli, 40 miles from Genoa
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Cullen née Murphy, 2 High Street, Wexford.

Fitzhenry, James

Date of Birth
Address
Fair Gate, New Ross
Service No.
13140
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
C Battery, 62nd Brigade
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Mary Fitzhenry nee Forrestal of Fair Gate, New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Born on April 5th

Convery, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
4088
Rank
Private
Regiment
Northumberland Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in the Mediterranean
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Catherine Convery née Mulligan.

Doyle, James

Date of Birth
Address
Talbot Street, Wexford
Service No.
1385
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from pneumonia at Talbot Street, Wexford
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Alice Doyle nee Byrne, 59 Talbot Street, Wexford.

Middleton, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Liverpool.
Service No.
5866
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders while a POW
Other Biographical Details
Son of Tomas and Mary Middleton née Hennessy. Mother at 23 Arlington Street, Liverpool.

Murphy, Garrath

Date of Birth
Service No.
308585
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
SS Irene
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed when HMS Princess Irene exploded while loading mines off Sheerness
Other Biographical Details
Mother: Kate, 30 Faythe Street, Wexfordthe son of John and Kate Murphy née Scallan. Correct name Garrett. His father was a hotel servant.

Murphy, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Abbey Street, Wexford
Service No.
4317A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Orbita
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned on the East coast of Africa.
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Kate Murphy of Wexford. Husband of Mary Kate Murphy of Abbey Street, Wexford. Article in The People 1915

Sample Records

Carthy, John

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. high forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Alias
Carty
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
18047
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Grave Reference: Special memorial A.1. Cemetery - twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey. He signs himself Carthy in correspondence.

Leigh, Edward

Head and shoulders portrait from press cutting.
Date of Birth
Address
Rosegarland, Co. Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action whilst in command of the battalion near Krithia, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Francis Augustine Leigh, J.P., D.L., formerly 10th Hussars and Mrs Augustine Leigh née Perrier of Rosegarland, Co. Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin. Husband of Mary Meade Leigh, only daughter of Sir John Buchanan, L.L.D., of Clareinch, Claremont, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Served in the South African Campaign and in India, Malta and the British West Indies. He left one son, Edward Buchanan Leigh, born at Vacoas, Mauritius on the 19th June, 1913.

Awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and King's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

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