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 December 30th

Beer, William Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
K/20771
Rank
Leading Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Collingwood
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of John & Mary Beer née Kelly, Wexford. Died aged 26 Buried Commemorated Widnes Cemetery, Lancashire, UK.

Dwyer, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
10 William Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Service No.
K/18912
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Natal
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Explosion and sinking of HMS Natal.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Dwyer. Married Margaret Mary Millerick at Queenstown, Co. Cork, 27 November 1915. Widow at 20 Queen Street, Cork. Mother Mrs Denis Murphy at 10 William Street, Gorey.

Fanning, James

Date of Birth
Address
Sleedagh, Wexford
Service No.
6029
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at sea
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Frances Fanning nee Murray. Married Mary Cassidy 16 August 1911. She died at Sleedagh 12 July 1917. Their son John James, born 27 August 1911, was cared for by his grandmother Mrs Anne Cassidy of Adamstown, Co. Wexford.

Kavanagh, Kevin Peter

Date of Birth
Address
St. Mary's, Wexford
Service No.
2813
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned at Sea
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Catherine Kavanagh née Murphy

Murphy, Michael

Address
Ryland Road, Bunclody.
Service No.
9542
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 Michael and Bridget Murphy of 2 Ryland Road, Newtownbarry, Co. 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.

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.

Sample Records

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.

Leigh, Edward

Head and shoulders portrait from press cutting.
Date of Birth
Address
Rosegarland, Co. Wexford
Rank
Major
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action whilst in command of the battalion near Krithia, Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Francis Augustine Leigh, J.P., D.L., formerly 10th Hussars and Mrs Augustine Leigh née Perrier of Rosegarland, Co. Wexford. He was educated at St. Columba's College, Co. Dublin. Husband of Mary Meade Leigh, only daughter of Sir John Buchanan, L.L.D., of Clareinch, Claremont, Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Served in the South African Campaign and in India, Malta and the British West Indies. He left one son, Edward Buchanan Leigh, born at Vacoas, Mauritius on the 19th June, 1913.

Awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and King's South Africa Medal with two clasps.

Smith, George Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Maudlintown, Wexford
Service No.
2534
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Australian Infantry
45th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Johanna Smith nee Sinnott of Maudlintown, Wexford. 

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