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 19th

Chapman, William Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
South Main Street, Wexford
Service No.
3/16799
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Joseph and Maria Elizabeth Chapman nee Connell. His father was a navy pensioner and lived at William Street, Sligo. In 1911, William jnr was a draper's assistant in Wexford town at the drapery and boot factoring business of Thomas Masterton, Sount Main Street.

Doyle, John

Date of Birth
Address
Clonroche, Co. Wexford
Service No.
9297
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mary Doyle nee Boland of Clonroche. 

Farrell, Peter

Date of Birth
Address
48 King Street, Wexford
Service No.
3851
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Mary Farrell nee Browne, King Street, Wexford.

Kirwan, Matthew

Date of Birth
Alias
Kirwin
Address
Arklow, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
7230
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Flanders following the third battle for Ypers
Other Biographical Details

Son of Matthew and Maggie Kirwan née Lambert.  Husband of C. Kirwan of 22 Whitefriars Street, Dublin.

O'Keefe, William Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Faythe House, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, hit by a German shell.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Joseph and Matilda Mary Agnes O'Keefe née Fogarty of Faythe House, Wexford.

Sample Records

Bolger, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
49878
Rank
Private
Regiment
Worcestershire Regiment
15th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at home
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Bolger née Murphy.
His father, John Bolger (2320D) of the HMS Grafton, died as a direct result of enemy action off Suvla, Galipoli, 12th August 1915.

Roche, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross
Service No.
10309
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Stasia Roche of Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross. Photograph in the Enniscorthy Guardian. Son of Luke and Anastasia Roche nee Waters. His father was a labourer.

Moore, William

Date of Birth
Address
Bagenalstown, Co Carlow.
Service No.
10534
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Salonika
Other Biographical Details

Son of Laurence and Anastasia Moore nee Fowler.

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