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 December 26th

Byrne, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
39 Irish Street, Enniscorthy
Service No.
83711
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Defence Corps
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Rosanna Byrne née Murray of 39 Irish St, Enniscorthy. Died after the war - buried at New Catholic Cemetery Enniscorthy.

Joyce, John Ulick

Date of Birth
Service No.
PO/13059
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
HMS Bulwark
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Bulwark was blown up in Sheerness Harbour.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Evans Joyce and Margaret Affra Joyce née Magrath of Taghmon. Husband of Josephine Joyce of Aughfal House, Taghmon, Co.Wexford. 

Stafford, George

Date of Birth
Service No.
4651/B
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Intent
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died by means other than disease, accident or enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter and Katherine Stafford nee Ennis of St Helen's, Kilrane. His father was a farmer and a fisherman

Born on December 26th

Kenealy VC, William Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs
Service No.
1809
Rank
Lance Sergeant
Regiment
Lancashire Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Gallipoli. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Gully Ravine on 28 June 1915 and died the next day.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Colour-Sergeant John & Margaret Kenealy nee Davis, Bolton Rd. Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs. Born 38 Parnell Street, Wexford. Kenealy is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

— The London Gazette (No. 29273), 24 August 1915

Murphy, Patrick Joseph.

Date of Birth
Address
Bootle in Lancs.
Service No.
47126
Rank
Private
Regiment
North Staffordshire Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Mary Murphy née McDonnell. Married Anna Mary Pierce 29.10.1906.

Norris, Thomas Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
Dublin
Service No.
3647
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

He enlisted as 67665 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1914. Son of William and Anne Norris nee Cowman, of Kilbranish South, Newtownbarry, Co. Wexford. Named George at birth.

Sample Records

Leigh, Edward

Head and shoulders portrait from press cutting.
Date of Birth
Address
Rosegarland, Co. Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action whilst in command of the battalion near Krithia, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Francis Augustine Leigh, J.P., D.L., formerly 10th Hussars and Mrs Augustine Leigh née Perrier of Rosegarland, Co. Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin. Husband of Mary Meade Leigh, only daughter of Sir John Buchanan, L.L.D., of Clareinch, Claremont, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Served in the South African Campaign and in India, Malta and the British West Indies. He left one son, Edward Buchanan Leigh, born at Vacoas, Mauritius on the 19th June, 1913.

Awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and King's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Robert Devereux

Date of Birth
Alias
Alexander Howie
Address
6 Patrick Place, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
43210
Rank
Private
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
72nd Company
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Susan Devereux nee Farrell. His father, a labourer, died from tuberculosis 21/12/1901.

His mother married Peter Walsh 10/10/1906. Robert enlisted at Dublin under the alias Alexander Howie as 9468 in 1st Leinster Regiment, stating that he was born in Dublin. He went to France 19/12/1914 and was later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps.

Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres, Belgium.

 

Rossiter, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
3095A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Hampshire
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Rossiter of William Street, Wexford.

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