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 October 23rd

Killingley, Hastings Grevatt

Date of Birth
Address
Whitechurch Vicarage, Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin
Service No.
30322/3
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action at the Battle of the Somme on the Ridge at Les Boeufs.
Other Biographical Details
Birth Cert states born in Wexford. Son of Rev. David Francis Killingley [1865 - 24 Feb. 1947] and Belle Charlotte Grevatt Taylor Killingley [1865 - 20 Feb. 1947] who were married in 1893. Rev. Killingley was Rector of Whitechurch, 1900-1941.

Malone, Laurence

Address
New Ross
Service No.
25259
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Laurence and Mary Malone of Houghton Place, New Ross.

Murphy, Myles Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Johnstown, Clonegal Co.Wexford.
Service No.
5402
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Bridget Murphy of Johnstown. Enniscorthy Guardian article.

Myles, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Mary Street, New Ross
Service No.
K27782
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Genista
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Flower Class Sloop was torpedoed in the North Sea by German Submarine U-57
Other Biographical Details
Son of Peter and Margaret Myles nee Curley of Mary Street, New Ross.

Rochford, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
7 William Street, New Ross
Service No.
21661
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Bridget Rochford nee Franey of 7 William Street, New Ross. Brother of Patrick below

Born on October 23rd

Cass, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/42194
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
The son of William and Mary Ann Cass née Davis.

Delaney, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
5202S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
HMS Indefatigable
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action aboard HMS Indefatigable, off Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Delaney nee Rossiter, Cornmarket, Wexford.

Redmond, Peter Paul

Date of Birth
Service No.
136512
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defiance
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease
Other Biographical Details
Sister: Mrs.Mary Douglas, 1934 W47th St, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The son of Thomas and Catherine Redmond née Parle. His father was a labourer.

Sample Records

Buttle, Albert Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
17th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Annie Buttle of Templeshannon, Enniscorthy. His father, John was Director of Messrs. Buttle Bros & Co. Ltd, Bacon Curers and Merchants. Albert was educated in Newtown School, Waterford and Model School, Enniscorthy. Enlisted with Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st April 1915. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Irish Rifles 2nd Bn. Took part in the Battles of the Somme in July 1916 and was invalided home in January 1917. Promoted to First Lieutenant, July 1917. Was offered a medical discharge being medically unfit, but volunteered again and rejoined his regiment in France on 29th May 1918. A casualty of the Fifth Battle of Ypres (28 Sept – 2 Oct 1918). Buried in Haringhe Military Cemetery.

Rennison, Walter Martyn

Date of Birth
Address
The Rectory, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of the Revd Chancellor Henry Rennison and Mrs Kate Louisa Rennison née Palmer of The Rectory, Wexford.  Formally a medical student in Trinity College, Dublin prior to enlistment.

Bolger, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
49878
Rank
Private
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Bolger née Murphy.
His father, John Bolger (2320D) of the HMS Grafton, died as a direct result of enemy action off Suvla, Galipoli, 12th August 1915.

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