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 16th

Connors, Denis

Date of Birth
Alias
O'Connor
Address
24 Ross Road, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
3/5926 and 5926
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Thomas (butcher by trade), foreman in Messrs Buttle Brothers victualing establishment, and Bridget Connors née Carty of 24 Ross Road, Enniscorthy. Grave at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belguim.

Cosgrave, Jeremiah

Date of Birth
Service No.
17962
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 John and Mary Cosgrave of Galbally, Bree, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Jeffares, Reginald Isaac

Date of Birth
Address
2 Mont Alto, Dalkey, Co. Dublin
Service No.
26218
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
9th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Sheppard French and Kate Elizabeth Jeffares nee Clapham, Tinneranny, New Ross. Husband of Margaret Susan Jeffares nee Crawley of 2 Mont Alto, Dalkey, Co. Dublin. They had married 9 May 1916.

Kelly, Michael

Address
Bray, Co.Wicklow
Service No.
1198
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Steven and Margaret Kelly.

Murray, Cecil William

Black and White head and shoulder shot civilian collar and tie.
Date of Birth
Service No.
14125
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Daniel and Arabella Jane Murray née Corvan, 14 Harrington Street, Dublin.

Neill, James

Address
Carrickduff, Co.Wexford
Service No.
43039
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Mother Ellen at Newtownbarry.

Power, Henry

Date of Birth
Address
Dennistown, Murrintown
Rank
Fireman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Mirlo (London)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
SS Mirlo was torpedoed, set on fire and sunk by German submarine U-117.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Robert and Kate Power nee Lawler of Dennistown, Murrintown

White, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
177 The Faythe, Wexford.
Service No.
9511
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late Nicholas and Mary Ann White née Doyle. Mother widowed in 1903, returned to Wexford and remarried to Michael Kavanagh, The Faythe (and later of Byrnes Lane). Effects to his mother. Lived with his mother and step-father in the Faythe and worked as a Messenger Boy aged 13 in 1911.

Born on August 16th

Cosgrave, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
31438
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
East Lancashire Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

 Educated in St Peter's College, Wexford. Mother's maiden name was Foley

Maloney, Daniel

Date of Birth
Service No.
1356 S.T.
Rank
Trimmer
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Trawler Ben Loyal
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from gallbladder empyema and shock following an operation 26.3.1917.
Other Biographical Details
Wife: Amelia, 140 High Street, Swansea. The son of Daniel and Catherine Maloney née Howlin. His father was a labourer. Married Amelia Northam, 1887. The 1891 Census shows him, a labourer, at 12 Chapel Street, Swansea. Children were Thomas (3), Daniel (1) and William (1 month). The 1911 Census shows him as a commission agent and his wife was a licensed victualler at 140 High Street, Swansea. Children present were Thomas (23), Emily (18), Joseph Augustine (14), Annie (13), John (11), Amelia (9), and Florence Mary (7). Widow at 140 High Street, Swansea.

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.

Sample Records

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Barrack Street, Wexford
Service No.
9929
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in the battle of St Julien, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of James Murphy, Barrack Street , Wexford. James was known as one of the best boxers in the army. Lord Kitchener wrote to James parents conveying the sympathy of the King and Queen on the death of Private Murphy. His brother Patrick, a seaman on board HMS Orbita, was drowned on the 31st of August 1915 at only 21 years of age.
Private James Murphy has no known grave but is commemorated on panel 33 of the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium.

Dowse, William Arthur Clarence

Date of Birth
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action, Somme, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Dr. Thomas James and Katherine Elizabeth Dowse nee Trouton of 14 Lower George Street, Wexford. 

Byrne, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Lived in Wygram, Wexford. (also lived in Waterloo Road and Upper John Street.)
Service No.
1900
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the Third Battle of Ypres, Flanders (Jul 31, 1917 – Nov 10, 1917).
Other Biographical Details

Son of John & Sarah Byrne, (nee Lacey) Wygram, Wexford. Step Mother Margaret Byrne (nee Roche) at John Street, Wexford. Thomas was an apprentice moulder in a local foundry at the time of the Wexford Lockout 1911. His body was never recovered. He is memorialised on panel 33, Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

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