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 September 14th

Brady, Michael

Address
Ellendale, Killena, Gorey.
Service No.
TS/8966
Rank
Driver Saddler
Regiment
Royal Army Service Corps
74th Divisional Train
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Sole legatee Maggie Brougham. Killed during period between Second Battle of Bapaume (2-3 September 1918) and the Battles of the Hindenburg Line (Battle of Epehy, 18 September 1918). Buried Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery France. 

Spencer, Charles

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Service No.
7610
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Mary Spencer née Byrne. Husband of Annie Spencer née Molloy of Ballygarron, Kilmuckridge, Gorey. Article in the Echo.

Swift, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
7026
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 Bartholomew and Ellen Swift née Neill. Husband of Catherine née Lewis.

Tierney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Bewley Street, New Ross
Service No.
4729
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France
Other Biographical Details

Brother of Andrew Tierney (11520) . Son of Patrick and Susan Tierney née Wall, Bewley Street, New Ross. Buried La Neuville British Cemetery, France. (Grave 11 D 61.)

Born on September 14th

Colfer, James Richard

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Redmond Colfer and Martha Colfer of New Ross, Co. Wexford.

Sample Records

Toole, Edward Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Curracloe House, Wexford.
Service No.
1952
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)
31st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, Courevlette, The Somme in the vicinity of Pozieres
Other Biographical Details

Son of William John and Magdalene Toole nee Thompson of Curracloe House, Curracloe. 

Family Background: According to the memorial article for Edward, in Du Rivigny’s United Kingdom Roll of Honour 1914-1919, the Toole children were descended from families who had some wealth and held positions of regard in their professions and within their communities. William John Toole, their father was both a land owner and land agent. The name of their home was Curracloe House. William’s father, Captain William O’Toole of the 40th British Regiment, served with distinction throughout his life. Their mother, Magdalene Thompson, was the daughter of William Thompson, a surgeon, who practiced in the army hospital in Madras, India, the city in which  Magdalene was born in 1845.

Family Life:  Edward Thomas Toole (nickname Ned) was born April 1, 1885 in Curracloe, Wexford, Ireland.  He was one of 13 known children of William and Magdalene, all born in Country Wexford: William (1871-1952, nickname Barney);  Isabella (1872-1919); Catherine (1873-1955); George Archer (1874-1957); Mary   (1876- ); Annie (1877-); Magdalene (1878-1940); Laurence Henry (1879-1967); Henrietta (1880-1968); Victoria (1881-1963); Archer John (1883 -1963); and, David Frederick Jack (1886-1918).

The Toole family is recorded in Wexford until at least 1888, when William lost his fortune in an investment in which beach land was being developed into farmland. The land was destroyed in a storm leaving the Tooles in financial stress (referenced by Toole-Peet history).

3 other brothers also served with the Canadian Forces. Captain Jack Toole killed in action France. 28.09.1918.   Death and Remembrance: Lieutenant Edward Thomas Toole was killed in action on September 15, 1916, the first day of action of the Battle of Fleurs-Courcelette during the campaign in the Somme. His name is recorded on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.  He has no burial site.

Carty, John

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
1656S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Monmouth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. Monmouth wa sunk in a Naval action in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile, South America
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr. Philip Carty of Trinity Street, Wexford.

Murphy, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Service No.
27700
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action by gas in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of George and Mary Murphy née Keating. All the family were born in Wexford except Albert. Lived in Wexford since infancy. Named as Albert G. on the Census.

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