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.

Born on February 15th

Kavanagh, Bryan

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross, Co. Wexford
Service No.
267176
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Warwickshire Regiment
27th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Martin and Mary Kavanagh nee Power

O'Brien, Patrick

Date of Birth
Alias
Brien, John
Address
Patrick Street, Enniscorthy
Service No.
8093
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home, Tuberculosis, Patrick Street, Enniscorthy
Other Biographical Details

Son of Moses and Annie Brien née Neill

Smith, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Ballygarret
Service No.
7241
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 Patrick and Margaret Smith née Doyle 

Sample Records

John Michael Grogan

Date of Birth
Service No.
9444
Rank
Guardsman
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

He was 61629 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary from 1912 and served in Gorey. Son of 7663 Constable William Grogan, Dublin Metropolitan Police, and Bridget nee Ryder. His brother Christopher, 5 Parnell Street, Dublin, was sole legatee. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.

Byrne, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Lived in Wygram, Wexford. (also lived in Waterloo Road and Upper John Street.)
Service No.
1900
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the Third Battle of Ypres, Flanders (Jul 31, 1917 – Nov 10, 1917).
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Sarah Byrne, (nee Lacey) Wygram, Wexford. Step Mother Margaret Byrne (nee Roche) at John Street, Wexford. Thomas was an apprentice moulder in a local foundry at the time of the Wexford Lockout 1911. His body was never recovered. He is memorialised on panel 33, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Moore, William

Date of Birth
Address
Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Service No.
10534
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Salonika
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Anastasia Moore nee Fowler.

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