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 March 10th

Bolger, Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
3/8670 and 8670
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Palestine, Killed in Action during the period of the Battle of Tell 'Asur (8th-12th March 1918)
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick Bolger,  11 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy. Husband of Annie Bolger née Cummins of 17 Palatine Square, Burnley. Battle of Jerusalem / Palestine Campaign casualty. Buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery in Israel. 

Byrne, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
S/10203 and 10203
Rank
Private
Regiment
Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Byrne of Ballycanew, Gorey. Formerly served as 4/4233 Pte in the Royal Irish Regiment. Killed during a quiet period four months before opening of Battle of the Somme on July 1st. According to article in Free Press in 1916 Byrne complained in letter home of 'dullness and inactivity' prior to death. 

Furniss, James

Date of Birth
Address
Neville Street, New Ross
Service No.
10063
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Palestine.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Margaret Hennessy, Church Lane, New Ross.

Kennedy, William

Address
Ramsgrange
Service No.
10053
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action Palestine
Other Biographical Details
Son of Patrick and Bridget Kennedy of Newtown, Ramsgrange, Co.Wexford.

Leigh, Thomas

Address
Taghmon
Service No.
6970
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of illness Bristol
Other Biographical Details

Son of William Leigh of Taghmon. 

Roche, Michael Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross
Service No.
10309
Rank
Rifleman
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action, France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Stasia Roche of Mount Garrett Lane, New Ross. Photograph in the Enniscorthy Guardian. Son of Luke and Anastasia Roche nee Waters. His father was a labourer.

Born on March 10th

Doyle, Timothy

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford Street, New Ross
Service No.
16518
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died from TB at Fermoy Military Hospital
Other Biographical Details
Husband of Mrs Mary Murphy of Wexford Street, New Ross. Son of Nicholas and Bridget Doyle née Power of New Ross. Married Margaret Whelan at New Ross 1904. Discharged sick 19.3.1918

Sample Records

Cooper, John

Date of Birth
Address
Taghmon
Service No.
7571
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary Cooper née Warren of Taghmon, Co. Wexford. Brother of 2273 Michael Cooper.

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. 

Merriman, Edward

Head and shoulder shot in uniform, seated.
Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
3183
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
6th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Gallipolli
Other Biographical Details

Son of Edward and Mary Merriman nee Murphy of 52 Faythe Street, Wexford. 

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