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 27th

Cox, Luke

Date of Birth
Address
Kiltealy
Service No.
62842
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Marseilles
Other Biographical Details

Son of James & Mary Cox née Brien of Rathduff, Killanne, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.  Previously served as 10078 in Royal Irish Regiment.

Fortune, James

Date of Birth
Address
Ringsend, Dublin.
Rank
Second Mate
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
SS Adela (Dublin)
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed when sailing from Dublin to Liverpool.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Christopher and Mary Fortune. Husband of Mary Anne Fortune née Kane of 8 Hasting Street, Ringsend, Dublin.  The Adela was a 685 grt defensively-armed British Merchant ship. On the 27th December 1917 when 12 miles NW from the Skerries, Anglesea, she was torpedoed by German submarine U-100 without warning and sunk. 24 lives lost. Read more at: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?12755
Name appears on the Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London. 

Born on December 27th

Crowther, William

Date of Birth
Service No.
10767
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Julia Crowther nee Walton of 5 Graham's Cottages, Ballybough Road, Dublin.

Mc Grath, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
12212
Rank
Private
Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Miss Margaret McGrath.

Sample Records

Stafford, Francis

Date of Birth
Address
161 Iveagh Building, 25, New Bride Street, Dublin
Service No.
14896
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Missing in Action Gallipoli campaign presumed dead.
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anne Stafford née Keegan. Husband of Gertrude Stafford née Moore of 161 Iveagh Building, 25 New Bride Street, Dublin.  Served in India and the Boer War Campaign. Was employed in Guinness' and appears on the Guinness Great War Roll of Honour. His final rank was Lance-Corporal - promoted in the field. Commemorated on the Helles Memorial monument, Gallipoli, Turkey. 

Murphy, Moses

Sepia head and shoulders photograph in uniform
Date of Birth
Alias
Mogue Murphy
Address
Duke Street, Wexford
Service No.
2290
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Daniel and Anastasia Murphy nee Connors. Husband of Catherine Murphy nee Kenny of Duke Street, Wexford. They had five children: Bridget 1907, John 1908, Margaret 1910, Daniel 1913, and Aidan 1916. Buried at Tancrez Farm Cemetery in Belgium.

Bolger, John

Date of Birth
Address
Kilmuckridge
Service No.
5667
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds victim of poisonous gas in France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Bridget Bolger nee Redmond. Married Bridget Whelan. No children. Well known in Gaelic and athletic circles. Buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, France.

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