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 July 15th

Clinch, James Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
6955
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Anastasia Clinch nee Hendrick, Ballylusk. Brother of John Clinch, 619 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, Brisbane, Queensland and Christopher Clinch, Ballylusk, Templeshambo, Ferns.

Murphy, Michael

Date of Birth
Alias
Nicholas
Address
Ballymurn, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
8751
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died while a German POW in Peron (Field Hospital), cause of death unknown
Other Biographical Details

Son of James Murphy. Next of kin Mary Murphy, Enniscorthy. Micheal (Nick) was employed as a Stable Boy before enlisting, Grave/Memorial reference: VII.C20. Tincourt New British Cemetery, France.

Born on July 15th

Merriman, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Kilcannon, Enniscorthy
Service No.
7974
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Anne Merriman née Carney 

O'Keefe, William Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Faythe House, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, hit by a German shell.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Joseph and Matilda Mary Agnes O'Keefe née Fogarty of Faythe House, Wexford.

Tweedy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Portersgate, Fethard.
Rank
Second Mate
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Northfield (London)
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of the late George and Ellen Tweedy née White. Husband of Kate Tweedy née McGuinness of Portersgate, Fethard.

Sample Records

Smyth, Robert Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns
Service No.
10501
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at Aral Wood, France
Other Biographical Details

De Ruivigny's Roll of Honour. Husband of Sarah, daughter of John Pratt. Son of Frank and Sarah Smyth née Pratt of Munfin, Ballycarney, Ferns. At Munfin in the 1911 Census.

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.

Bishop, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
4498
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Bishop née Hayden, Castlebridge. Later resided in Hayestown, Co. Wexford. Killed in Flanders, Second Battle of Ypres (22 April-25 May, 1915) in which 1st Royal Irish Regiment, serving in 27th Division, were a part.

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