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 25th

Foley, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
502
Rank
Private
Regiment
Australian Infantry
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action at Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Mary Anne Foley nee Reid. Husband of Elizabeth Foley nee Graydon, 162 Athol Street, Ascot Vale, Victoria, Australia. They had three children. She was later Mrs Harvey, c/o Post Office, Sandgate Lane, Brisbane, Queensland.

Kenny, Edward

Date of Birth
Address
Ballinatray
Service No.
5733A
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Canopus
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in the Dardanelles
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mary Anne Kenny nee Redmond and Patrick Kenny of Ballinatray, Courtown Harbour, Co.Wexford. 

Born on April 25th

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
34403
Rank
Private
Regiment
Auckland Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Simon and Catherine 'Kate' Murphy née Murphy. Next of kin was his brother Rev Fr W.J. Murphy, St Patrick's, Auckland, New Zealand.Article in The People 1918

Sample Records

Sikes, Richard Herbert

Posed studio photo of a young Richard Sikes taken prior to enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
2 Park View, Wellington Road, Cork
Rank
Sub Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Naval Division
Howe Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the Western Front
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard Cherry Sikes and Susanna Lecky Sikes 2 Parkview Wellington Rd. Cork. In 1914 he joined the Royal Fusiliers and spent a winter in the trenches.  He was transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was in command of a company in the Howe Battalion. Sub Lieutenant Richard Herbert Sikes is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France and the War Memorial in St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral in Cork. Buried at Bay 1. Arras Memorial, Department du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Anderson, James

Date of Birth
Address
3 Trinity Place, Wexford.
Service No.
5624
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds Battle of the Rivers, at Aisne, October 1914, France
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Ellen Anderson of 3 Trinity Place, Wexford. Fifteen years service, fought in the second South African campaign. Buried in the Canadian Cemetery No.2 Neuville-St. Vaast, france

Roche, James

Date of Birth
Address
15 College Road North, Blundell Sands, Liverpool
Service No.
6701
Rank
Private
Regiment
York and Lancaster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Catherine Agnes Roche nee Rowe, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford. Sole legatee was his sister Mary Kate Roche, 67 Empire Road, Liverpool. Other siblings were Walter, Richard, Patrick, and Ellen.

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