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.

About

The Records

About

Contact Us

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 October 23rd

Killingley, Hastings Grevatt

Date of Birth
Address
Whitechurch Vicarage, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin
Service No.
30322/3
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of the Somme on the Ridge at Les Boeufs.
Other Biographical Details
Birth Cert states born in Wexford. Son of Rev. David Francis Killingley [1865 - 24 Feb. 1947] and Belle Charlotte Grevatt Taylor Killingley [1865 - 20 Feb. 1947] who were married in 1893. Rev. Killingley was Rector of Whitechurch, 1900-1941.

Malone, Laurence

Address
New Ross
Service No.
25259
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Mary Malone of Houghton Place, New Ross.

Murphy, Myles Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Johnstown, Clonegal Co.Wexford.
Service No.
5402
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Bridget Murphy of Johnstown. Enniscorthy Guardian article.

Myles, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Mary Street, New Ross
Service No.
K27782
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Genista
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Flower Class Sloop was torpedoed in the North Sea by German Submarine U-57
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter and Margaret Myles nee Curley of Mary Street, New Ross.

Rochford, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
7 William Street, New Ross
Service No.
21661
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Bridget Rochford nee Franey of 7 William Street, New Ross. Brother of Patrick below

Born on October 23rd

Cass, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/42194
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
The son of William and Mary Ann Cass née Davis.

Delaney, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
5202S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action aboard HMS Indefatigable, off Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Delaney nee Rossiter, Cornmarket, Wexford.

Redmond, Peter Paul

Date of Birth
Service No.
136512
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defiance
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease
Other Biographical Details
Sister: Mrs.Mary Douglas, 1934 W47th St, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The son of Thomas and Catherine Redmond née Parle. His father was a labourer.

Sample Records

Smith, George Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Maudlintown, Wexford
Service No.
2534
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Australian Infantry
45th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Johanna Smith nee Sinnott of Maudlintown, Wexford. 

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.

Breen, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
4370
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Wounded while fighting in the Dardanellas. Died at Sea on hospital ship enroute to Malta
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Margaret Breen née Habernathy of 66 Ross Rd, Enniscorthy. Brother of James Breen (4387) Irish Guards, 1st Battalion, who was killed less than fours months earlier in France during The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915. Husband of Margaret Breen née Nolan of 4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy. Thomas left a window and two children. Remembered on Panel 158 - 170, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

Explore the Records