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 October 1st

Murphy, Thomas

Address
Danescastle, Carrig-on-Bannow
Service No.
1800
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
1/6th
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Article in the Echo 1915

Redmond, James

Address
North Broadway Street, St Louis
Service No.
3107077
Rank
Private
Regiment
Central Ontario Regiment
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of Michael and Bridget Redmond of Garryhaslin, Co.Wexford.

Ryan, Peter Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Service No.
3775
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
57th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of gas poisoning in the 50th Casualty Clearing Station based in Tincourt, Boucly, France. Husband of Mrs McCarthy (remarried), Corries, Bagenalstown, Co.Carlow
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Cathrine Ryan née Edwards, Oylegate, Wexford. of Killoughtemane Corries, Bagenalstown, Co.Carlow. Brother of John Ryan, 32 Hobson Street, Victoria. Mother Mrs McCarthy (remarried)

Walsh, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Castleknock, Co Dublin
Service No.
5373
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Bridgid Walsh of Church View, Castleknock, Co.Dublin. Son of Michael and Anne Walsh née Finn

Born on October 1st

Hanton, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
2440/S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Anson Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Malta Military Hospital from a wound in the head caused by a compound fracture of the skull received at the Dardanelles.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hanton nee Carthy of 9 Emmet Place, Wexford. 

Merrigan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lapwing (Arbroath)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
While on a voyage from Rotterdam to London, SS Lapwing hit a mine laid by German Submarine UC-4.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Mary Merrigan nee Maddock of 5 Old Post Office Lane, New Ross.

O’Shea, John

Date of Birth
Address
Falkirk, Stirlings
Service No.
S/23416
Rank
Private
Regiment
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Bernard and Elizabeth O'Shea nee Carroll of 11 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy.

White, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Bride Street, Wexford
Service No.
3453.B.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Highland Monarch
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in hospital at Oran, Algeria, from smallpox
Other Biographical Details
The son of Thomas and Mary White née Duigan.Wife: Mary, A 1 Distillery Road, Wexford. The son of Thomas and Mary White née Duigan. His father was a sailor. Residing in Bride Street, Wexford, when he married Mary Anne Denroche, 15.2.1904. Children born: Thomas 1905, Kate 1907, and Mary Frances 1911. The 1911 Census shows them at Joseph Street, Wexford

Sample Records

Rogers, Bartholomew

Date of Birth
Address
6 Emmet Place, Wexford
Service No.
2449T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Rogers nee Manning of Emmet Place, Wexford. Husband of Kate Rogers nee Rowe of 6 Emmet Place, Wexford.

Bartholomew McCarthy

Date of Birth
Alias
Bartle
Address
45 Lambe Street, Liverpool
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Lusitania (Liverpool)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Lusitania sunk by German submarine U-20 of the coast of Cobh, Co. Cork
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Bridget (née White)

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.

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