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 June 9th

Beatty, Richard George

Date of Birth
Address
Borodale, Enniscorthy.
Rank
Captain
Regiment
1st Duke of York's Own Lancers (Skinner's Horse)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed on the Northwest Frontier in India.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Captain David Longfield, Commander of the General Fleet, and Catherina Edith Beatty [nee Chaine]. Husband of Florence Mary Beatty, of Hove, E. Sussex. Served in the South African War. Youngest brother of Admiral of the Fleet David Earl Beatty, P.C., G.C.B. Brother of Charles Harold Longfield Beatty D.S.O. 

Sample Records

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.

Brehon, Richard Colles

Date of Birth
Address
14 Newtown or Commons, New Ross
Service No.
114383
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Mounted Rifles
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ypres (Ieper), Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders. Killed at the Battle of Mont Sorrel (Battle of Hill 62, 2 to 13 June 1916
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Colles and Anne Brehon, listed in 1901 Census in New Ross, Co. Wexford, as a gentleman farmer and a member of the Irish Church.

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.

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