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 13th

Allen, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
3623B
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Goliath was sunk in Morto Bay off Cape Helles by three torpedoes from an Ottoman destroyer
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Catherine Allen of New Ross. Widow Marianne at 8 Derby Road, Weaste, Manchester.

Barron, William

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyhack, Arthurstown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
2842A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed in Dardanelles by German destroyer the Muvanet -I Milet.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Barron née Neville of Ballyhack, Arthurstown. When torpedoed, the HMS Goliath blew-up and capsized immediately taking 570 of her 750 crew including the captain to a watery grave. (Enniscorthy Guardian 1915)

Bishop, Walter

Date of Birth
Service No.
3577
Rank
Private
Regiment
Household Cavalry
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Margaret Bishop née Baldwin of Manor St., Waterford. Killed in Flanders, Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May, 1915) in which 2nd Dragoon Guards, serving in 1st Cavalry Division, were a part.

Dempsey, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
5752A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Goliath was torpedoed in the Dardanelles
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Dempsey of Bride St, Wexford.

Kavanagh, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
5729A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship was sunk by three torpedoes from German destroyer Muvanet-1-Milet.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Mary Kavanagh nee Cahill of Kildermott, Ballymoney, Gorey, Co.Wexford. His father was a farmer. Gave his date of birth to the RN as the 15th April 1892.

Kehoe, James

Date of Birth
Address
Ballymitty, Co. Wexford
Service No.
6969
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Bridget Kehoe. Husband of Mary Kehoe later Mrs Doran of Rochestown, Taghmon, Co. Wexford.

Meyler, Michael

Date of Birth
Service No.
110470
Rank
Armourer
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Sunk by three torpedoes fired from the Turkish torpedo boat Muavenet which was manned by a German crew at the time.
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late James and Anne Meyler. (Married 1881) Co. Wexford. The 1911 Census shows him with his wife Philippa at 12 Amherst Street, Pennycomequick, Plymouth. Children present were Adelaide (28), John (23), Francis (16) and Norman (12). Widow at 9 Holdsworth Street, Pennycomequick, Plymouth. Body not recovered for burial. Appears on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.

Murphy, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
S.S.101958
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Sister: Alice Lewistown, Fethard son of John and Catherine ‘Kate’ Murphy née Hayes. His father was a blacksmith. His mother died 21.7.1890. The 1901 Census shows his father at Lewistown with children Aidan (20), John (16), Michael (14) and Patrick (13). By 1911 those present were his father and children Aiden (30), Alice (28) and Patrick (22, a naval reservist).

Born on May 13th

Roche, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross
Service No.
10309
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Stasia Roche of Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross. Photograph in the Enniscorthy Guardian. Son of Luke and Anastasia Roche nee Waters. His father was a labourer.

Thumpton, John Alias Thumpkin

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
308920
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Air Force
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Influenza in Blandford, Dorset
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Sarah Thumpkin née Foster forerly Kavanagh. Served as Thumpton

Sample Records

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.

Elmes, King

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
attached 2nd/16th Battalion London Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Mary Elmes née Robinson of Robinstown House, Palace East, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 

Whelan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Rathaspick, Co. Wexford
Service No.
8917
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the battle of Le Pilly on October 19, 1914. His body was never recovered but his name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial in the Pas de Calais region of northern France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Whelan, a labourer and Elizabeth née Carroll. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais.

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