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 March 16th

Byrne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Camolin.
Service No.
4204
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders two days after German assault on St Eloi, near Ypres, Flanders.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Byrne of Ballyhast, Leskinfere, Gorey. Germans launched an attack on British positions at St Eloi (14 March 1915) - 1st Royal Irish were serving in 27th Division which bore the brunt of the assault.Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial in Belgium. 

Daly, John

Date of Birth
Alias
John Dooley
Address
New Ross
Service No.
10160
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Catherine Dooley. His mother married Denis Daly, Mary Street, New Ross, in 1896.

Murphy, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. High forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Address
3 Well Lane, Wexford
Service No.
4319
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at St. Eloi, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Nicholas and Jane Murphy. Husband of Mary Ann Murphy of 3 Well Lane, Wexford. Private Murphy had been in the army for a number of years serving in both India and South Africa. He had two children.
No known grave but remembered on Panel 33, Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

 

Neill, Patrick

Date of Birth
Alias
Patrick O'Neill
Service No.
8691
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Anne Neill. Patrick was an assistant baker in the New Ross Workhouse before joining the army. Having served for some years in India, he returned to Liverpool before the outbreak of war. At the front he survived the Battle of Mons but was wounded in a subsequent engagement. Memorial on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. (Panel 33).

Born on March 16th

Doyle, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Swift Curriet, Saskatchewan.
Service No.
252284
Rank
Private
Regiment
Alberta Regiment
49th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Hospital in service, Winnipeg
Other Biographical Details

Died in Hospital in service at Man Mill Hospital , Tuxedo, Winnipeg from advanced TB. Discharged from front. Returned to Canadia on H.S. Araguaya from Liverpool 04/02/18. Husband of Muriel, Patriot, Sask. Occupation on enlistment was Teamster. 

Dwyer, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
10 William Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Service No.
K/18912
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Natal
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Explosion and sinking of HMS Natal.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Dwyer. Married Margaret Mary Millerick at Queenstown, Co. Cork, 27 November 1915. Widow at 20 Queen Street, Cork. Mother Mrs Denis Murphy at 10 William Street, Gorey.

Nolan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Back Street, Wexford
Service No.
16489
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Salonika
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Mary Nolan nee Redmond. Married Christina Smith in 1905. In 1911 his address was 11 Trimmers Lane, Wexford. Husband of Mrs Nolan of Back Street. Brother of Martin Nolan 16565.

Sample Records

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.

Ennis, James

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
7470
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Margaret Ennis nee Handley of 6 Upper King Street, Wexford. 

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.

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