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 May 27th

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

Connolly, Thomas Augustin

Date of Birth
Service No.
13982
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ellen Connolly nee Eustace of Ballygalvert, New Ross, Co.Wexford.

 

Cormack, John

Date of Birth
Alias
John Joseph Cormick
Service No.
4682B
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Majestic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Brother of William Cormack, Bing, Kilrane, Tagoat, Co. Wexford. Parents: John Cormick and Margaret Hayes. The 1901 Census shows William McCormack (21) at Bing with his siblings John (18), Mattie (16) and Maggie (14). By 1911 William had a family and John, an agricultural labourer, lived with him. Next of kin was his brother William McCormack.

Menelaws, William Ferguson

Address
Ross Road, Enniscorthy
Service No.
10615
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds to head from bursting shell, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Born Fort George Invernesshire. Lived at 7 Redmond St. Enniscorthy with Mother Mary and Stepfather James Doherty. Son of William and Mary Menelaws née Bolger. The 1911 Census shows him, aged 16, at 86 Ross Road, Enniscorthy.

Murphy, Garrath

Date of Birth
Service No.
308585
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
SS Irene
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed when HMS Princess Irene exploded while loading mines off Sheerness
Other Biographical Details
Mother: Kate, 30 Faythe Street, Wexfordthe son of John and Kate Murphy née Scallan. Correct name Garrett. His father was a hotel servant.

Ormsby, George

Date of Birth
Address
Hammersmith, Middlesex.
Service No.
210867
Rank
Pioneer
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Sgt Richard Ormsby, RIC, nd Elizabeth née Brosnan.

White, James George

Date of Birth
Service No.
K.25540
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
SS Irene
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by an internal explosion off Sheerness while his vessel was loading mines
Other Biographical Details
Niece: Mrs M Barrett, 10 Staines Row, Limehouse E

Born on May 27th

Cooney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
8759
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
5th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Egypt
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Cooney nee Rochfort, Garranstackle, Co. Wexford. Husband of Catherine Cooney nee Boland of Bree, Macmine, Co. Wexford.

Jackman, James

Date of Birth
Address
Clohamon, Co.Wexford
Service No.
S/14487
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Rifle Brigade
16th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Thomas and Catherine Jackman née Walsh.

Roche, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
19236
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 Thomas and Ellen Roche née Redmond.

Sample Records

Kehoe, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
2 Eden Terrace, Kingstown, Dublin.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Leinster (Dublin)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship sunk by German Submarine UB-123 on the way to Holyhead
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Kehoe nee Murphy, Bride Street, Wexford, and later of 2 Eden Terrace, Kingstown, Dublin. His father was a Dublin Port pilot who predeceased him. Siblings were William, Catherine, Teresa, Ellen, John, Patrick, and Mary Ann.

Nolan, James

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of James Nolan prior to enlisting aged 20. Freshfaced, short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with narrow knotted tie and a lighted coloured relaxed jacket.
Date of Birth
Address
Ballinamona, Ballycanew, Gorey.
Service No.
8225
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action during the Battle of San Quentin at The Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Nolan née Duffy of Ballinamona, Ballycanew. (Twin brother of Peter.) Formally with the Royal Irish Regiment Service number 5161. 
Decorated in 1917 and awarded the Military Medal, for bravery in battle on land.  He was listed in the London Gazette on 18th July 1917. Memorialised on Panel 90-93 the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France.

Cullimore, George Henry

Posed photograph of a young George taken before enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
London
Service No.
20505
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Egypt.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Albert and Elizabeth Teresa Cullimore née Harpur of Clarence House, Wexford. Grandson of Moses Harpur, 57 South Main Street, Wexford. Formerly enlisted in Royal Innisskilling Fusiliers and no. 5101, 1st & 2nd Batt 8th London Regiment. Brother of Joseph Albert Cullimore.

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