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.

Born on February 13th

Doyle, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Courtown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
8074
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died at 21st Stationary Hospital, Salonika
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Eliza Doyle nee Kenna, 4 Grattan Terrace, Gorey. Brother of Margaret Doyle of 45 Upper Main Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford. Other siblings Edward and James

Kehoe, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
287130
Rank
Leading Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defence 1907
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Ship's magazine exploded when hit by a German shell during the Battle of Jutland.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Catherine Kehoe nee Burnell of Oldhall, Bridgetown, Wexford. 

Sheridan, Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Ballyrorey, Co.Wexford.
Service No.
7185
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr and Mrs Sheridan of Coolboy, Tinahely, Co.Wicklow. In his will he left everything to his mother Mrs Ellen Byrne, Coolboy, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow. Coolboy is just inside the Wexford boundary. Patrick was living in Ballyrorey, County Wexford at the time of his death. Commemorated on panel 33, Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belguim. 

White, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
WR/215423
Rank
Sapper
Regiment
Royal Engineers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds received 10.8.1917 at 5th Northern General Hospital, Leicester, 16.11.1918
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Margaret Whelan née Walsh.

Sample Records

Kenealy VC, William Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs
Service No.
1809
Rank
Lance Sergeant
Regiment
Lancashire Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Gallipoli. He was seriously wounded in the Battle of Gully Ravine on 28 June 1915 and died the next day.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Colour-Sergeant John & Margaret Kenealy nee Davis, Bolton Rd. Ashton - in - Marketfield, Lancs. Born 38 Parnell Street, Wexford. Kenealy is buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

On 25th April, 1915, three companies, and the Headquarters of the 1st Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers, in effecting a landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula to the West of Cape Helles, were met by a very deadly fire from hidden machine guns which caused a great number of casualties. The survivors, however, rushed up to and cut the wire entanglements, notwithstanding the terrific fire from the enemy, and after overcoming supreme difficulties, the cliffs were gained and the position maintained. Amongst the many very gallant officers and men engaged in this most hazardous undertaking, Capt. Willis, Serjt. Richards, and Pte. Kenealy have been selected by their comrades as having performed the most signal acts of bravery and devotion to duty.

— The London Gazette (No. 29273), 24 August 1915

Stafford, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
161 Iveagh Building, 25, New Bride Street, Dublin
Service No.
14896
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Missing in Action Gallipoli campaign presumed dead.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Stafford née Keegan. Husband of Gertrude Stafford née Moore of 161 Iveagh Building, 25 New Bride Street, Dublin.  Served in India and the Boer War Campaign. Was employed in Guinness' and appears on the Guinness Great War Roll of Honour. His final rank was Lance-Corporal - promoted in the field. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial monument, Gallipoli, Turkey. 

Carthy, John

Head and shoulder shot in high neck uniform. high forehead and mustache
Date of Birth
Alias
Carty
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
18047
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action in Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Grave Reference: Special memorial A.1. Cemetery - twelve Tree Copse Cemetery in Turkey. He signs himself Carthy in correspondence.

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