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 December 30th

Beer, William Joseph

Date of Birth
Service No.
K/20771
Rank
Leading Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Collingwood
Date of Death
Other Biographical Details
Son of John & Mary Beer née Kelly, Wexford. Died aged 26 Buried Commemorated Widnes Cemetery, Lancashire, UK.

Dwyer, Albert

Date of Birth
Address
10 William Street, Gorey, Co. Wexford
Service No.
K/18912
Rank
Stoker
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Natal
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Explosion and sinking of HMS Natal.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Miss Mary Dwyer. Married Margaret Mary Millerick at Queenstown, Co. Cork, 27 November 1915. Widow at 20 Queen Street, Cork. Mother Mrs Denis Murphy at 10 William Street, Gorey.

Fanning, James

Date of Birth
Address
Sleedagh, Wexford
Service No.
6029
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds at sea
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Frances Fanning nee Murray. Married Mary Cassidy 16 August 1911. She died at Sleedagh 12 July 1917. Their son John James, born 27 August 1911, was cared for by his grandmother Mrs Anne Cassidy of Adamstown, Co. Wexford.

Kavanagh, Kevin Peter

Date of Birth
Address
St. Mary's, Wexford
Service No.
2813
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
4th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Drowned at Sea
Other Biographical Details

Son of Peter and Catherine Kavanagh née Murphy

Murphy, Michael

Address
Ryland Road, Bunclody.
Service No.
9542
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Michael and Bridget Murphy of 2 Ryland Road, Newtownbarry, Co. Wexford.

Redmond, Peter Paul

Date of Birth
Service No.
136512
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Defiance
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from disease
Other Biographical Details
Sister: Mrs.Mary Douglas, 1934 W47th St, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. The son of Thomas and Catherine Redmond née Parle. His father was a labourer.

Rennison, Walter Martyn

Date of Birth
Address
The Rectory, Wexford
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
3rd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of the Revd Chancellor Henry Rennison and Mrs Kate Louisa Rennison née Palmer of The Rectory, Wexford.  Formally a medical student in Trinity College, Dublin prior to enlistment.

Sample Records

Reville, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
2410B
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
HMS Laurentic
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Laurentic ship was sunk off the Irish coast, hit a mine at Fanad Head en route to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Mrs Teresa Reville nee Butler of The Faythe, Wexford. His father was a shoemaker. His brothers Matthew, Nicholas and Joseph also served with the Royal Navy during the war.

Nolan, James

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of James Nolan prior to enlisting aged 20. Freshfaced, short dark hair, wearing a white shirt with narrow knotted tie and a lighted coloured relaxed jacket.
Date of Birth
Address
Ballinamona, Ballycanew, Gorey.
Service No.
8225
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Machine Gun Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action during the Battle of San Quentin at The Somme
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Margaret Nolan née Duffy of Ballinamona, Ballycanew. (Twin brother of Peter.) Formally with the Royal Irish Regiment Service number 5161. 
Decorated in 1917 and awarded the Military Medal, for bravery in battle on land.  He was listed in the London Gazette on 18th July 1917. Memorialised on Panel 90-93 the Pozieres Memorial, The Somme, France.

Canavan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey
Service No.
5872
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Charles and Margaret Canavan née Smith. His father was a Metropolitan police Office. He lived Kilcavan, Tara Hill, Gorey with his uncle James Canavan. He was a Gaelic Leaguer and all Ireland Hornpipe champion in 1906 at the Wexford Feis and again the following year in Wicklow. Buried in the Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy , France.

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