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 April 30th

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.)

Born on April 30th

Cullen, Thomas

Date of Birth
Alias
Murphy, Thomas
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8926
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Robert and Mary Cullen nee Brien of 20 Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Served as Thomas Murphy. Brother of 10614 Maurice Cullen and 8112 Myles Cullen.

Duggan, George Robert

Date of Birth
Address
Manchester.
Service No.
9981
Rank
Drummer
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Marcella Duggan nee Stapleton of 80 Beresford Street, Moss Side, Manchester.

Humphreys, John Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
10643
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Richard and Amelia Margaret 'Emily' Humphreys née Tector.

Kavanagh, James Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
14996
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canterbury Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Margaret Kavanagh nee Sinnott of Cooladine, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford

Sample Records

Forde, Frank

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
26437
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back to the trenches for medical attention.
Other Biographical Details

Born John Francis, son of John and Margaret Forde nee Rourke.  His father, born in Co. Galway, was a constable in the RIC and later an insurance agent. His mother was born in Co. Wexford. Later resided at Patrick Square, Wexford.
A clerical worker in the Pierce Ironworks Foundry in Wexford, Frank joined up aged 16. In early August 1916, he arrived in France and fought at the Battle of the Somme. However, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday, Frank was grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back from the trenches for medical attention. His platoon commander, Lieutenant A.W. Henchy wrote to Frank's parents and called him 'a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud'. Frank was buried in Trachee de Mecknes Cemetary in the Pas de Calais in France. In his military will, he left everything he possessed to his mother.

Carthy, John

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. high forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Alias
Carty
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
18047
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Grave Reference: Special memorial A.1. Cemetery - twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey. He signs himself Carthy in correspondence.

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.

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