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 August 26th

Connors, Patrick

Date of Birth
Alias
O'Connor
Address
Rathangan
Service No.
8281
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Ellen Connors née Walsh of Johnstown, Duncormick, Wexford. Effects to his father. Brother of Michael J O'Connor 1883 Welsh Guards.

Hickey, John

Date of Birth
Address
Cross Lane, New Ross
Service No.
72995
Rank
Driver
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
122nd Battery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Anastasia Hickey nee Shea of 1 Cross Lane, New Ross. 

Born on August 26th

Goode, Henry William

Date of Birth
Address
13 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool
Service No.
114682
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
177th Siege Battery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Eliza Anne Goode nee White, Irish Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. His father was a policeman. Husband of Sarah Goode nee Jones of 13 Ashfield, Wavertree, Liverpool. 

Parslow, Samuel

Date of Birth
Address
Grange, Fethard
Service No.
K/324
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Amphion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Amphion was first ship to be sunk during World War
Other Biographical Details
Son of William and Elizabeth Parslow nee Deacon of Grange, Fethard. His father was a farmer

Sinnott, Stephen

Date of Birth
Service No.
6259
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Anthony and Anne Sinnott nee Brien

Sample Records

Berry, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Tullow, Co.Carlow
Service No.
7253
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Margaret Jordan (Formally Berry). Eleven years service before been drafted to Flanders. Had been stationed in India. reported missing after the Battle of Mons. Commemorated on Panel 11 and 12, Le Touret Memorial, France. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Basse.

Murphy, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
Newbridge, Co. Kildare
Service No.
27700
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action by gas in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of George and Mary Murphy née Keating. All the family were born in Wexford except Albert. Lived in Wexford since infancy. Named as Albert G. on the Census.

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.

 

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