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 6th

Hendrick, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Camolin, Co. Wexford
Service No.
9164
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Bridget Hendrick nee Dempsey. Baptised at Ferns 21 January 1890.

Born on May 6th

Berney, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
12418
Rank
Acting Corporal
Regiment
Royal Welsh Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Gallipoli, Killed in Action during days of evacuation from Cape Helles in December/January 1915-16
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Eliza Berney née Meyler.

Dempsey, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
5752A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
HMS Goliath was torpedoed in the Dardanelles
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Dempsey of Bride St, Wexford.

Grennell, Richard P.

Date of Birth
Alias
Thomas Kelly, Grennel, Grannell
Address
52 Lowe St. Gisborn.
Service No.
10/3315
Rank
Private
Regiment
Wellington Infantry
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Disease (Pneumonia) while on active service, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Mary Grannel née Brien (or Bryan possibly Tomhaggard) of Castle Hill Street, Wexford. Husband of Mary Ann Grennell née Nolan, Bond Street, Liverpool and father to Elizabeth b. Feb 1908 Liverpool. Occupation at time of enlistment was marine firemen.

Recorded as enlisting under an assumed name of Thomas Kelly but this may have been a clerical error on the part of the military. Corrected after death.
Buried Cimetière Saint-Pierre, Marseille, France.

Kavanagh, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
5729A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Goliath
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship was sunk by three torpedoes from German destroyer Muvanet-1-Milet.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Mary Kavanagh nee Cahill of Kildermott, Ballymoney, Gorey, Co.Wexford. His father was a farmer. Gave his date of birth to the RN as the 15th April 1892.

Veney, William Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Kongwak, Victoria
Service No.
967
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
24th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details
Son of Frederick and Margaret Veney née Wallace. Article in the Enniscorthy Guardian. Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 10th May 1915. Letter from his mother dated 12th July 1917 to the Commanding Officer of records.

Sample Records

Butler, Philip

Date of Birth
Address
Tinahely, Co. Wicklow
Service No.
4391
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Philip (d. 28/12/1928) & Bridget (nee Daly) Butler, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Date of death, 19th October, is the date that 2nd Royal Irish assaulted the town of Le Pilly, during the Battle of La Bassee .

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.

Peare, Hilda Florence Letitia Anna

Date of Birth
Address
Killmallock House, Enniscorthy
Rank
Unknown
Regiment
Voluntary Aid Detachment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
At the Military Hospital, Seymour Park, Manchester. Severe attack of Scarlatina (Scarlet Fever) contracted while she was nursing the sick and wounded of the fighting forces
Other Biographical Details

Daughter of Robert Hawtry and Alice Maud Peare née Sutherland, Kilmallock House, Enniscorthy. Estimated year of birth: 1894

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