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 20th

Goode, Henry William

Date of Birth
Address
13 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool
Service No.
114682
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
177th Siege Battery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Eliza Anne Goode nee White, Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. His father was a policeman. Husband of Sarah Goode nee Jones of 13 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool. 

Holbrook, Patrick Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford
Service No.
1042
Rank
Private
Regiment
12th Lancers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Youngest son of John and Mary Holbrook née Duggan, South Main Street, Wexford. Brother of Very Reverend Henry Holbrook, Chancellor of the Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand.

Murphy, Martin

Date of Birth
Address
27 Oldfield Road, Cumberland Basin, Bristol
Service No.
Bristol Z/1731
Rank
Signalman
Regiment
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
HMS Paxton
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
His vessel was torpedoed.
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Mary Ellen Murphy nee Cullen of 27 Oldfield Road, Cumberland Basin, Bristol. Native of Wexford. Article in a Wexford newspaper.

Potts, Edward Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
33 Upper John Street, Wexford
Service No.
9062
Rank
Private
Regiment
Kings Liverpool Regiment
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Potts nee Brien of 33 Upper John Street, Wexford. 
3 sons killed. A 4th son, Thomas (Royal Naval Reserve) survived the War.

Ryan, Edward

Address
Monamolin
Service No.
S2/SR/04369
Rank
Private
Regiment
Army Service Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Ellen Ryan of Clone, Monamolin, Gorey. Husband of Ellen Ryan of Ballyedmond, Gorey.

Born on May 20th

O’Donovan, Patrick Francis

Date of Birth
Address
Begerin Loftus, New Ross
Service No.
28374
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Kate Donovan of Begerin Loftus nee Quigley, New Ross.

Sample Records

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.

 

Rogers, Bartholomew

Date of Birth
Address
6 Emmet Place, Wexford
Service No.
2449T
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Rogers nee Manning of Emmet Place, Wexford. Husband of Kate Rogers nee Rowe of 6 Emmet Place, Wexford.

Sikes, Richard Herbert

Posed studio photo of a young Richard Sikes taken prior to enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
2 Park View, Wellington Road, Cork
Rank
Sub Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Howe Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the Western Front
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Cherry Sikes and Susanna Lecky Sikes 2 Parkview Wellington Rd. Cork. In 1914 he joined the Royal Fusiliers and spent a winter in the trenches.  He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was in command of a company in the Howe Battalion. Sub Lieutenant Richard Herbert Sikes is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France and the War Memorial in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork. Buried at Bay 1. Arras Memorial, Department du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

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