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 May 11th

Brien, John

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
5458
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in hospital. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Mary Brien of Chapel Lane, Enniscorthy. Died three weeks after the beginning of the Second Battle of Ypres, (22 April – 25 May 1915) in which his battalion, 2nd RIR, serving in 4th Division were a part.

Born on May 11th

Fitzhenry, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Mulrankin
Service No.
4423
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Margaret Fitzhenry nee Connick of Kilmannon, Cleariestown, Co. Wexford.

Tierney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Bewley Street, New Ross
Service No.
4729
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France
Other Biographical Details

Brother of Andrew Tierney (11520) . Son of Patrick and Susan Tierney née Wall, Bewley Street, New Ross. Buried La Neuville British Cemetery, France. (Grave 11 D 61.)

Sample Records

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.

Smyth, Robert Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns
Service No.
10501
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at Aral Wood, France
Other Biographical Details

De Ruivigny's Roll of Honour. Husband of Sarah, daughter of John Pratt. Son of Frank and Sarah Smyth née Pratt of Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns. At Munfin in the 1911 Census.

Murphy, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. High forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Address
3 Well Lane, Wexford
Service No.
4319
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at St. Eloi, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Nicholas and Jane Murphy. Husband of Mary Ann Murphy of 3 Well Lane, Wexford. Private Murphy had been in the army for a number of years serving in both India and South Africa. He had two children.
No known grave but remembered on Panel 33, Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

 

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