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 June 7th

Brooks, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
9130 and 3/9130
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
14th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs M Brooks. Veteran of the South African War. In the employment of the Enniscorthy Urban Council. Rejoined Army after outbreak of the Rebellion 1916. Buried in Lone tree Cemetery Belgium. 

Busher, Edward

Address
Bride Street, Wexford.
Service No.
4525
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from wounds in the Somme sector.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Margaret Busher née Hanton of Bride Street, Wexford. Prior to the war, Edward was a reservist and rejoined the army on the outbreak of hostilities 1914. Buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery, France.

Drinkwater, James John

Date of Birth
Address
Hampton Wick in Middlesex.
Service No.
9962
Rank
Private
Regiment
East Surrey Regiment
12th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of George and Mary Drinkwater nee Timmons of 71 Wick Road, Hampton Wick, Middlesex.

Jones, Charles

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy
Service No.
7233
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds Gallipoli
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mrs J.Jones of Slaney Street, Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford. Son of John and Jane Jones née Kelly

Kavanagh, William

Date of Birth
Address
Fairfield, Enniscorthy
Service No.
9494
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Aiden and Sarah Kavanagh nee Foster of Fairfield, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. 

Murphy, James Patrick

Address
Bannow
Service No.
11538
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of James and Annie Murphy of Balloughton, Bannow.

Nolan, Joseph Patrick

Date of Birth
Address
Hampden St., Holitika, New Zealand
Service No.
6/1670
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canterbury Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Gallipoli. Died from gunshot wound to the back
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick Nolan and Mrs Nolan, 3 Clifford Street, Wexford. Widow Kate and daughter in Wellington, New Zealand. originally had a career as a sailor but settled in New Zealand. Enlisted at the outbreak of war and was sent to the Dardanelles. Shot by a sniper. Brother to Mrs. Patrick Sinnott, Bellefield, Enniscorthy and to Mrs. Dora Breen, 3 Clifford Street, Wexford. 
Buried in Shrapnel Valley Cemetery in Turkey.

Redmond, William Hoey Kearney

Date of Birth
Alias
Willie Redmond.
Address
Glenbrook, Delgany, Co.Wicklow and Palace Manshions, Kensington, London.
Rank
Major
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wound received in an attack at Wytschaete Wood in Belgium after being injured by a shell.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Eleanor Redmond. Nationalist Member of Parliament for Wexford since 1884. Awarded the Legion of Honour (France). One of the rare people to be buried abroad during WW1 in a coffin. Son of William Archer and Mary Redmond née Hoey. Younger brother of John E. Redmond MP and Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Born on June 7th

Fortune, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
Monageer
Service No.
2020
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Ann Fortune nee Doyle of Gorey Hill, Gorey, Co. Wexford. 

Murphy, John Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
65 Faythe, Wexford
Service No.
287199
Rank
Air Mechanic
Regiment
Royal Air Force
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from pneumonia at The Faythe.
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Mary Murphy nee Doyle of 65 Faythe, Wexford.

Tweedy, George

Date of Birth
Address
11 Flinders Street, Stanley Road, Liverpool.
Service No.
42688
Rank
Private
Regiment
The King's (Liverpool Regiment)
20th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Tweedy née Power. Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetary, Belguim. (Grave: XVII E 16.)

Sample Records

Forde, Frank

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
26437
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back to the trenches for medical attention.
Other Biographical Details

Born John Francis, son of John and Margaret Forde nee Rourke.  His father, born in Co. Galway, was a constable in the RIC and later an insurance agent. His mother was born in Co. Wexford. Later resided at Patrick Square, Wexford.
A clerical worker in the Pierce Ironworks Foundry in Wexford, Frank joined up aged 16. In early August 1916, he arrived in France and fought at the Battle of the Somme. However, just a few weeks before his 17th birthday, Frank was grievously wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died while being brought back from the trenches for medical attention. His platoon commander, Lieutenant A.W. Henchy wrote to Frank's parents and called him 'a fine courageous fellow and a gallant soldier of whom his family should be proud'. Frank was buried in Trachee de Mecknes Cemetary in the Pas de Calais in France. In his military will, he left everything he possessed to his mother.

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.

Carty, John

Date of Birth
Address
William Street, Wexford
Service No.
1656S
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Monmouth
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Direct result of enemy action. Monmouth wa sunk in a Naval action in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chile, South America
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr. Philip Carty of Trinity Street, Wexford.

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