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 12th

Anderson, Hans

Date of Birth
Address
High Hill, New Ross and later at 10 Olaf Street, Waterford.
Service No.
40273
Rank
Private
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
20th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Somme campaign
Other Biographical Details

Mother Bridget, brother John
Anderson was formally with the Lancaster Fusiliers (No. 4320). The 20th Bn,  Manchester Regiment  were involved in fighting in the Somme sector during the time of Anderson's death. Buried in Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), France.

Crowe, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Darkley, Co. Armagh
Service No.
7753
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 Mary Crowe nee Redmond. Husband of Bridget Crowe of 29 Darkley Keady, Co. Armagh.

Doyle, Andrew

Date of Birth
Service No.
3131.B.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Inverawe
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease at Dreadnought Hospital, Greenwich
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Bridget Doyle. Cousin of Edward Turner, Riverchapel, Courtown Harbour, Wexford.

Kane, Patrick

Address
Back Street, Wexford
Service No.
377340
Rank
Private
Regiment
Labour Corps
746th Area Employment Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in France, Drowned
Other Biographical Details

Resided with his brother James at Back Street, Wexford. Sister Mary and Kathleen. Formerly served as 5942 in the Royal Irish Regiment

Lambert, John

Address
Wexford
Service No.
16498
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Maggie Lambert of Sell Row, Wexford. Husband of Margaret Lambert of 9 Bride Street, Wexford.

Murphy, James

Address
Kilflynn, Co.Kerry
Service No.
13988
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Engineers
2nd Field Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Annie Murphy of New Ross. Husband of Ellie Murphy of Kilflynn, Co. Kerry.

Murphy, Owen Francis

Date of Birth
Address
105 South Main Street, Wexford
Rank
Second Engineer
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS W.M. Barkley (Belfast)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS W.M. Barkley was sunk at 7pm by a German Submarine.
Other Biographical Details
Snippet in a Wexford newspaper. Son of Mr Murphy of 105 South Main Street, Wexford Son of John and Eliza Murphy née Connors.

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.

Born on October 12th

Murphy, Matthew

Date of Birth
Address
Duke Street, Wexford
Service No.
4068
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Brother of John Murphy of Duke Street, Wexford. Article in a Wexford newspaper. Son of Matthew and Christina Murphy née Reilly

Wafer, John

Date of Birth
Address
6 St Dominick's Terrace, Crosses Green, Cork
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Bandon (Cork)
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Maggie Wafer née Cahill. Husband of Hannah Wafer nee Varian of 6 St Dominick's Terrace, Crosses Green, Cork.

Whelan, Peter

Date of Birth
Service No.
6965
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Ann Whelan née Kennedy. The 1911 Census shows them at 20 Parnell Street, Wexford. Son of Mr. J. and Mrs M.R. Whelan of 38 Parnell Street, Wexford.

Sample Records

Leigh, Edward

Head and shoulders portrait from press cutting.
Date of Birth
Address
Rosegarland, Co. Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action whilst in command of the battalion near Krithia, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Francis Augustine Leigh, J.P., D.L., formerly 10th Hussars and Mrs Augustine Leigh née Perrier of Rosegarland, Co. Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin. Husband of Mary Meade Leigh, only daughter of Sir John Buchanan, L.L.D., of Clareinch, Claremont, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Served in the South African Campaign and in India, Malta and the British West Indies. He left one son, Edward Buchanan Leigh, born at Vacoas, Mauritius on the 19th June, 1913.

Awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and King's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

Merriman, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in uniform, seated.
Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
3183
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Gallipolli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Merriman nee Murphy of 52 Faythe Street, Wexford. 

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