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 March 26th

Butler, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
24 Parnell St, Wexford
Service No.
1991D
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Lady Cory Wright
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed as a direct result of enemy action- ship sunk by German submarine UC-17
Other Biographical Details

Son of Nicholas & Martha Butler of 24 Parnell St, and husband of Annie Butler at same address.

Carthy, James

Date of Birth
Address
12 Shannon Hill, Enniscorthy
Service No.
4449
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
At Home. Medical discharge due to aggravated TB 15/07/1916
Other Biographical Details
Son of James Carthy of 12 Shannon Hill, Enniscorthy.

Maloney, Daniel

Date of Birth
Service No.
1356 S.T.
Rank
Trimmer
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Trawler Ben Loyal
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from gallbladder empyema and shock following an operation 26.3.1917.
Other Biographical Details
Wife: Amelia, 140 High Street, Swansea. The son of Daniel and Catherine Maloney née Howlin. His father was a labourer. Married Amelia Northam, 1887. The 1891 Census shows him, a labourer, at 12 Chapel Street, Swansea. Children were Thomas (3), Daniel (1) and William (1 month). The 1911 Census shows him as a commission agent and his wife was a licensed victualler at 140 High Street, Swansea. Children present were Thomas (23), Emily (18), Joseph Augustine (14), Annie (13), John (11), Amelia (9), and Florence Mary (7). Widow at 140 High Street, Swansea.

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
34403
Rank
Private
Regiment
Auckland Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Simon and Catherine 'Kate' Murphy née Murphy. Next of kin was his brother Rev Fr W.J. Murphy, St Patrick's, Auckland, New Zealand.Article in The People 1918

Redmond, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
8375
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
King's Royal Rifle Corps
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Matthew and Mary Anne Redmond née Parle.

Born on March 26th

Cush, Peter

Date of Birth
Service No.
8799
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Mary Cush nee Farrell of Boley, Craanford, Co. Wexford. Brother of 6587 Michael Cush.

Sample Records

Ryan, James

Date of Birth
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in France, railway accident
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Ryan nee Roche of Raheen, Strahart, Ferns. Formerly he was 64994 Constable in the RIC. He had been wounded six times. He was a contributor to both home and foreign magazines, being a poet of a high order.

Sullivan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Gorey
Service No.
5320
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action. Struck by a shell at Hill 60.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Sullivan of 13 Grattan Street, Gorey. Husband of Bridget Sullivan of 16 Robert Street South, Dublin. Served in the South African War. Enlisted in Wexford while living in Gorey.

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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