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.

Born on December 19th

Furlong, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Mary Street, New Ross
Service No.
4468
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from enteritis while a POW in Germany
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edmund and Ellen Furlong née Flynn. Taken prisoner 20 October 1914 and sent to Limburg and Giessen, Germany.

Moloney, Stephen

Date of Birth
Alias
Maloney
Address
Ballyhitt, Broadway, Wexford,
Service No.
B/4558
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
Anson Bn.
HMS "President III"
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died after Discharge (Invalided) at Ballyhit, Broadway, Co.Wexford, from Phthisis (2 years).
Other Biographical Details

Parents: Richard S. & Elizabeth Maloney, "St. Ivers," Ballyhit Cottage, Broadway, Co.Wexford. Brother of Francis.

Sample Records

Roche, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross
Service No.
10309
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Stasia Roche of Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross. Photograph in the Enniscorthy Guardian. Son of Luke and Anastasia Roche nee Waters. His father was a labourer.

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.

Bishop, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
4498
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Bishop née Hayden, Castlebridge. Later resided in Hayestown, Co. Wexford. Killed in Flanders, Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May, 1915) in which 1st Royal Irish Regiment, serving in 27th Division, were a part.

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