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 10th

Boland, James

Date of Birth
Address
Treforest, Glam
Service No.
34767
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
13th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action, Battle of Mametz Wood, Battle of the Somme
Other Biographical Details

Mother Mary at Ballyleigh, New Ross.

Roche, Laurence

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyask, Kilmore
Service No.
4313A and 4313A/(DEV)
Rank
Leading Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Garmoyle
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS Garmoyle was sunk by German Submarine U-57, 20K southeast of Mine Head, Cork.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Annie Roche nee Molloy. His father was a general labourer.Husband of Mary Roche of Ballyask, Kilmore. His son James was born 8 April 1914. Kilmore (Grange) Graveyard.

Whelan, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
7034S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Diana
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct resu;t of an accident
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Margaret Whelan nee Browne of Upper King Street, Wexford.

Born on July 10th

Berry, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
1868
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Berry née Craney. Married Alice Meager Horn at Inverkeithing, Fife, Scotland, 1913 and resided there. Children born: Mary Ann 1914 and Alice 1915. To BEF 2nd May 1915 and posted to 1st Royal Irish Rifles. On 25th September, 1915, 1st Royal Irish Rifles, serving in 8th Division, were sent into battle at Bois Grenier as reinforcements.

Derry, George Francis

Date of Birth
Address
97 Cardwell Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool
Service No.
35563
Rank
Private
Regiment
East Surrey Regiment
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Theresa Derry nee Doyle of Cornmarket, Wexford.

Sample Records

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.

Stafford, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
161 Iveagh Building, 25, New Bride Street, Dublin
Service No.
14896
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Missing in Action Gallipoli campaign presumed dead.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Stafford née Keegan. Husband of Gertrude Stafford née Moore of 161 Iveagh Building, 25 New Bride Street, Dublin.  Served in India and the Boer War Campaign. Was employed in Guinness' and appears on the Guinness Great War Roll of Honour. His final rank was Lance-Corporal - promoted in the field. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial monument, Gallipoli, Turkey. 

Monaghan, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
3186
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Elizabeth Monaghan nee Nolan of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Thomas is one of four brothers serving in the army.
Memorial Reference: Panel 185 - 190, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

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