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 April 18th

Brennan, Myles

Date of Birth
Address
Well Lane, Wexford.
Service No.
10314
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Catherine Brennan née Brien. Married Alice Murphy 1915. Killed some weeks after the pursuit of the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line 14 March – 5 April 1917.

Nolan, John

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
3552
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Matthew and Bridget Nolan née Carroll. Brother of Aidan Nolan aboveand Michael Nolan below.

Born on April 18th

Kingsbury, Thomas

Date of Birth
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Kalibia (Glasgow)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by a German Submarine and sunk 29 miles West of the Lizard.
Other Biographical Details

Son of the late George and Elizabeth Kingsbury nee Connors. Brother of Joseph Kingsberry, Castlehill Street, Wexford.

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Kiltealy, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
19545
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Battle of the Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James (a carpenter by trade) and Bridget Murphy née Breen of Kiltealy.  Brother of James Murphy Junior of Cloroguemore, Kiltealy, Enniscorthy. Buried in Plot 1. Row G, Grave 18 Bertrancourt Military Cemetery. France.

Sample Records

Porter, William James

Date of Birth
Address
'Elmfield', Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Anne Elizabeth Porter nee Grandy of 'Elmfield' Wexford.

Farrell, Robert

Date of Birth
Alias
Robert Murphy
Address
Duke Street, Wexford
Service No.
3739
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Mrs Teresa Murphy nee Dwyer, Duke Street, Wexford. When they married in 1910, Robert was aged 24 and did not provide the name of his father. His widow married Patrick Frazer in 1919.

Breen, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
4370
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Wounded while fighting in the Dardanellas. Died at Sea on hospital ship enroute to Malta
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Margaret Breen née Habernathy of 66 Ross Rd, Enniscorthy. Brother of James Breen (4387) Irish Guards, 1st Battalion, who was killed less than fours months earlier in France during The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915. Husband of Margaret Breen née Nolan of 4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy. Thomas left a window and two children. Remembered on Panel 158 - 170, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

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