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 10th

Esmond, Thomas Louis

Address
Ballycoursey House, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Passenger
Regiment
Civilian
RMS Leinster
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned RMS Leinster
Other Biographical Details

Son of Lieut.-Col. Thomas Esmonde, V.C., and Matilda Maria O'Kelly Esmonde. Husband of Mary Alice Philomena Mansfield, whom he married on 30 September 1913. His funeral from University Church, St. Stephen's Green, Dublin, took place on 14 October 1918.

He was travelling to London, on business, onboard the Leinster, which was sunk by two torpedoes, whilst enroute from Kingstown [now Dun Laoghaire] to Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales on the morning of 10 October 1918. It seems that his death was not registered.

His grave is unmarked. As the grave was not purchased by the family at the time, it has been recycled and the Gallagher family were subsequently buried here. Having bought the grave, they have put up the headstone.

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.

Hogan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
10589
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Henry and Mary Hogan nee McElroy of Back Street, Taghmon, Co. Wexford.

Kehoe, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
2 Eden Terrace, Kingstown, Dublin.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Leinster (Dublin)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship sunk by German Submarine UB-123 on the way to Holyhead
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Kehoe nee Murphy, Bride Street, Wexford, and later of 2 Eden Terrace, Kingstown, Dublin. His father was a Dublin Port pilot who predeceased him. Siblings were William, Catherine, Teresa, Ellen, John, Patrick, and Mary Ann.

Knox-Browne Campbell, Eileen Hester Louisa

Address
Bunclody, Co. Wexford
Rank
Passenger
Regiment
Civilian
RMS Leinster
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned RMS Leinster
Other Biographical Details

Daughter of Lieut.-Col. John Hervey Knox-Browne [1841-1927] and Louisa Elizabeth Knox-Gore [1846-1903]. of Aughentaine Castle, Co. Tyrone. She was recorded in the 1901 census, living at home with her parents. She was 23 years old, and had been born in Co. Wexford. She died, together with her husband George and daughter Eileen, when they were onboard The Leinster. It was recorded that when her body was recovered she was holding the body of her daughter Eileen.

O'Connor Clark, Elizabeth

Address
Great Crosby, Merseyside
Rank
Passenger
Regiment
Civilian
RMS Leinster
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned RMS Leinster
Other Biographical Details

She lived at 110 Liverpool Road, Great Crosby, Merseyside. She had been visiting her sister Mary Flynn in Wexford, and was returning home.

A son, who was also a medical doctor, had served in WW1, and was recovering from injury.

Because she was a "War Casualty" and due to the scale of the disaster, there was no formal death certificate issued. Following the recovery of her body, Elizabeth was buried in a family grave at Blackwater, Co. Wexford.

Daughter of the late Captain Peter O'Connor, Blackwater, Co. Wexford.

O’neill, James

Address
Adamstown
Service No.
12192
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Edward

Quinsey, Henry William

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford.
Service No.
73120
Rank
Shoeing Smith
Regiment
Household Cavalry
7th South Irish Horse
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at Sea
Other Biographical Details

Son of Adam and Eliza Ellen Quinsey née Bennett.

Remembered at GRANGEGORMAN MILITARY CEMETERY, Dublin, CE. New Plot. 701.

White, John

Date of Birth
Address
Johnstown Post Office, Co.Kilkenny
Service No.
2695
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of Poelcappelle, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John (RIC stationed in Fethard, Co. Wexford) and Bridget White née Neville. John was a member of the Liverpool Police (No.351) Force prior to the war. Buried  Artillery Wood Cemetery, Boezinge, West Flanders, Belgium, Plot VII.F.17

The Battle of Poelcappelle was fought in Flanders, Belgium, on 9 October 1917 by the British Second Army and Fifth Army against the German 4th Army. The battle marked the end of the string of highly successful British attacks in late September and early October, during the Third Battle of Ypres.

Born on October 10th

Cosgrave, Daniel Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Glen View, Swords, Co. Dublin
Service No.
12993
Rank
Acting Corporal
Regiment
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Anastasia Cosgrave nee Hayes, Oylegate, Co. Wexford. Husband of Mary Ellen Cosgrave nee Gough of 7 Newgrove Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin. She later resided at 23 Great Brunswick Street, Dublin.

Sample Records

Toole, Edward Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Curracloe House, Wexford.
Service No.
1952
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
31st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Courevlette, The Somme in the vicinity of Pozieres
Other Biographical Details

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe. 

Family Background: According to the memorial article for Edward, in Du Rivigny’s United Kingdom Roll of Honour 1914-1919, the Toole children were descended from families who had some wealth and held positions of regard in their professions and within their communities. William John Toole, their father was both a land owner and land agent. The name of their home was Curracloe House. William’s father, Captain William O’Toole of the 40th British Regiment, served with distinction throughout his life. Their mother, Magdalene Thompson, was the daughter of William Thompson, a surgeon, who practiced in the army hospital in Madras, India, the city in which  Magdalene was born in 1845.

Family Life:  Edward Thomas Toole (nickname Ned) was born April 1, 1885 in Curracloe, Wexford, Ireland.  He was one of 13 known children of William and Magdalene, all born in Country Wexford: William (1871-1952, nickname Barney);  Isabella (1872-1919); Catherine (1873-1955); George Archer (1874-1957); Mary   (1876- ); Annie (1877-); Magdalene (1878-1940); Laurence Henry (1879-1967); Henrietta (1880-1968); Victoria (1881-1963); Archer John (1883 -1963); and, David Frederick Jack (1886-1918).

The Toole family is recorded in Wexford until at least 1888, when William lost his fortune in an investment in which beach land was being developed into farmland. The land was destroyed in a storm leaving the Tooles in financial stress (referenced by Toole-Peet history).

3 other brothers also served with the Canadian Forces. Captain Jack Toole killed in action France. 28.09.1918.   Death and Remembrance: Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole was killed in action on September 15, 1916, the first day of action of the Battle of Fleurs-Courcelette during the campaign in the Somme. His name is recorded on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.  He has no burial site.

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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