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 March 17th

Dunne, John Henry

Date of Birth
Alias
Dunn
Service No.
PLY/15707
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from illness in Liverpool Hospital
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Bridget Dunne nee Tonra of Killencooly, Kilmuckridge, Co. Wexford.

Kelly, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
1958
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from pneumonia at Usher's Island.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Bridget Kelly of 12 Usher's Island, Dublin. Previously served as 6694 in the R Irish Regt. Boer War veteran. Re-enlisted 25.10.14 but discharged as unfit 25.11.14. Son of Sergeant Michael Kelly, R Irish Regiment, and Ann nee O'Brien. The 1901 Census shows his pensioner father, manager of the County Wexford Club, at 34 Spawell Road, Wexford. Married Bridget O'Gorman, Rowe Street, Wexford, 24.2.1908. In 1911 his father was at Custom House Quay, Wexford.

Sherwood, Richard Atwell

Date of Birth
Address
7 Parnell Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9220 (7220 Pension Record)
Rank
Sergeant
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 Esther Victoria Sarah Sherwood née Atwell, ex-R.I.C. Sergeant, 7 Parnell Street, Wexford. Brother of John above. Buried Bailleul Communal Cemetery (Nord) in France.

Born on March 17th

Cox, Luke

Date of Birth
Address
Kiltealy
Service No.
62842
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Marseilles
Other Biographical Details

Son of James & Mary Cox née Brien of Rathduff, Killanne, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.  Previously served as 10078 in Royal Irish Regiment.

Melia, James

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
58360
Rank
Private
Regiment
Durham Light Infantry
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders, Prisoner of War
Other Biographical Details

Enlisted in St Helen's. Son of Charles and Catherine Melia of 66 Phythian Street St Helen's, Lancs.

O'Neill, Lawrence Justin Francis

Date of Birth
Address
Curlew, Alberta, Canada
Service No.
279872
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Canadian Railway Troops
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Liverpool
Other Biographical Details

Son of Larry and Mary O'Neill,. Husband of Mary Ann O'Neill, 465 12th Street, Calgary, Alberta. Stated he was born at Bellcraig, (Kellerig) Wexford at enlistment and was an Air Brake Mechanic. Buried in Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery, U.K. (Grave 11.R.C. 224.)

Sample Records

Reville, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
2410B
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Laurentic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Laurentic ship was sunk off the Irish coast, hit a mine at Fanad Head en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mrs Teresa Reville nee Butler of The Faythe, Wexford. His father was a shoemaker. His brothers Matthew, Nicholas and Joseph also served with the Royal Navy during the war.

Ennis, James

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
7470
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Margaret Ennis nee Handley of 6 Upper King Street, Wexford. 

Hearn, Mr. John

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of Mr. John S. Hearn. Trimed mustache, wearing a hat and white button collar shirt with narrow knotted tie, waistcoat and top coat.
Date of Birth
Address
Ruane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Passenger
Regiment
Civilian
RMS Leinster
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Civilian passenger on board R.M.S. Leinster which was sunk by torpedoes in the Irish Sea, 16 miles east of Dublin, shortly before 10am on the morning of 10th October 1918
Other Biographical Details

Mr. Hearn was involved with the Star Engineering works in Wexford and was also a significant employer in his native town of New Ross. He had been a member of the local Urban Council since 1899 and occupied the chair for several years. He was also chairman of the New Ross Technical Committee for a number of years and had represented the New Ross Division on Wexford County Council for the previous eleven years, having succeeded his brother, Mr. J.B. Hearn. 
Mr. Hearn's only son, Charles Denis Hearn, (C.D Hearn) was serving as an officer in the A.T.S. He was also survived by his brothers, James B. Hearn, Denis B. Hearn, Patrick Hearn, Dr. W.F. Hearn, solicitor, and Col. M. Hearn.
His Body was lost at sea.

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