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 9th

Cass, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/42194
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
The son of William and Mary Ann Cass née Davis.

Doyle, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
9918
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Doyle nee Fortune of Kilanerin, Gorey, Co. Wexford

Mc Donald, Peter

Address
Wexford
Service No.
6493
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Murray and Dora McDonald of Upper John Street, Wexford.

Sinnott, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Strokwell, London
Service No.
39765
Rank
Private
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Ella Gertrude Sinnott of 72 Atherfold Road, Clapham, London. Son of Edward and Mary Sinnott née Murphy.

Whitty, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
10942
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mark and Mary Whitty née Boyle of Ballybrazil, Campile, Co.Wexford.

Sample Records

Thorpe, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon hill, Enniscorthy
Service No.
11390
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Thorpe née Kelly. 

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Barrack Street, Wexford
Service No.
9929
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in the battle of St Julien, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James Murphy, Barrack Street , Wexford. James was known as one of the best boxers in the army. Lord Kitchener wrote to James parents conveying the sympathy of the King and Queen on the death of Private Murphy. His brother Patrick, a seaman on board HMS Orbita, was drowned on the 31st of August 1915 at only 21 years of age.
Private James Murphy has no known grave but is commemorated on panel 33 of the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

Cheevers, Matthew

Date of Birth
Alias
Mattie
Address
Campile, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
14211
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
12th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Cheevers née Hanlon of Horeswood, Campile, Co. Wexford.

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