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 September 22nd

Hawkins, George

Date of Birth
Service No.
O/118
Rank
Leading Signalman
Regiment
Royal Canadian Navy
HMCS Rainbow
Date of Death
Age
29
Circumstances of Death
Died at Esquimalt, British Columbia, Canada
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Francis 'Fanny' Hawkins nee Loftus of Killegney, Clonroche, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

Born on September 22nd

Quinsey, Henry William

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford.
Service No.
73120
Rank
Unknown
Regiment
Household Cavalry
Date of Death
Age
37
Circumstances of Death
Died at Sea
Other Biographical Details
Son of Adam and Eliza Ellen Quinsey née Bennett.

Shore, James

Date of Birth
Address
Courtnacuddy
Service No.
1770
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
Date of Death
Age
31
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds received in France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Johanna Shore née Doyle . Husband of Mary Shore née Leary of Courtnacuddy.

Sample Records

Dempsey, James

Date of Birth
Address
Bridgetown, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
11347
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Age
21
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Catherine Dempsey nee Fowler, Redmondstown, Rathaspick, Co. Wexford.

Dickinson, William John

Date of Birth
Service No.
Ch./1354 (S)
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Date of Death
Age
25
Circumstances of Death
Result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Nephew of Mrs Alice Wragg. 671, Victoria Terrace, Heaton Mersey, North Manchester. Son of William James and Mary Jane Dickinson nee Tyrrell. His father was a clerk and later a contractor. The 1901 Census shows him living with his grandfather, John Tyrrell, a master mariner at 3 South Circular Road, Limerick. The 1911 Census shows his widowed mother at 18 New Road, Limerick. Children present were William (19, a bakery clerk), Kezia Alice (18), Richard (16), Elizabeth (4).

Molloy, Patrick Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
1550
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Australian Infantry
24th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Age
23
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Rachel Molloy, Askinch, Coolgreaney, Co.Wexford. The 1901 Census shows him with the family at Stepaside, Co. Dublin. His father was an RIC constable. By 1911 his father was a farmer at Askinch, Co. Wexford, but Patrick was not present. Worked as a Farm Labourer in Australia

Awarded the Military Medal (AIF routine order No 16 dated 9th April 1918 and promoted to Sergeant) and is listed in the Commonwealth Gazette No 175 dated 7th November 1918.
Originally buried by the Rev, T.A. Campbell at Verloy. Re-interred  6 miles due north of Lillers 13-08-1918 in Thiemmes Military Cemetery.

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