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 31st

Cahill, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
2172.S
Rank
Leading Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Battle of Jutland
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick & Mary Cahill of William St, Wexford.  Indefatigable was sunk on 31 May 1916 during the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the war. 

Delaney, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
5202S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action aboard HMS Indefatigable, off Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Delaney nee Rossiter, Cornmarket, Wexford.

Doyle, Francis

Date of Birth
Alias
Frank Doyle
Service No.
PLY/16787
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed at Jutland on board HMS Indefatigable.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Katherine Doyle nee Fortune of 3 Castle Terrace, Phibsborough, Dublin.

Dwyer, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
228912
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Shark
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed during the Battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Dwyer nee Furlong of 8 Ross Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Esmonde, John Henry Grattan

John Henry Grattan Esmonde
Date of Birth
Rank
Midshipman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Invincible
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Invincible was sunk during the battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Sir Thomas Henry Grattan Esmonde, Bart. (former Chairman Wexford Co. Co.) M.P. and Alice Barbara Donovan of Ballynastragh, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

Furlong, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
5241S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Gregory and Margaret Furlong nee Doyle of Yoletown, Ballycullane, Co.Wexford. His father was an agricultural labourer. Navy gives his date of birth as 17th January 1892, but CWGC state his age as 27. In the 1901 Census, James is shown as 11.

Furlong, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
RMA/12643
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Marine Artillery
HMS Defence 1907
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Defence sunk during the battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Anastasia Furlong nee Kelly of Crandaniel, Barntown, Wexford

Hogan, Charles Walter

Date of Birth
Service No.
K.15099
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Margaret Hogan nee Burke, 24 Cumberland Street, Devonport. His father, born in Limerick, was Colour-Sergeant in 3rd Royal Irish Regiment, his mother was born in India. By 1901 his father was a wharf labourer residing at 33 King Street, Devonport. Children were Mary (13), Gladys (11), Patrick (7), Charles (5), Margaret (3), and Annie (9 months).

Kehoe, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
287130
Rank
Leading Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defence 1907
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship's magazine exploded when hit by a German shell during the Battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Catherine Kehoe nee Burnell of Oldhall, Bridgetown, Wexford. 

Lawler, George

Address
Wexford
Service No.
8636
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Denis and Mary Lawler of Carigeen Street, Wexford. 

Born on May 31st

Doyle, John

Date of Birth
Address
Clonroche, Co. Wexford
Service No.
9297
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Doyle nee Boland of Clonroche. 

Sample Records

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. 

Darling, William Oliver Fortesque

Date of Birth
Address
Chelsea Lodge, Duncannon
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of the Revd Oliver Warner Darling and Edith nee Dunn of Killesk Rectory, Duncannon, Co. Wexford. Brother of Second Lieutenant Claude Henry Whish Darling.

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

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