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 July 14th

Brophy, Andrew

Date of Birth
Address
Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny
Service No.
5037
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Btn.
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action on the first day of the Battle of Delville Wood, (14 July – 15 September 1916), First Battle of the Somme.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Andrew and Mary Brophy of High Street, Graiguenamanagh. No known grave but is listed on Pier and Face 3.A. on the Thiepval Memorial in France. 

Conroy, James

Date of Birth
Service No.
7790
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 Michael and Annie Conroy née Foley of New Street, Kilkenny.

Kinsella, John

Address
New Ross
Service No.
4866
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 John and Ellen Kinsella of Fairgate, New Ross.

Lawler, William

Address
Tacumshane
Service No.
10409
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Son of Darby and Mrs Bridgid Lawler.

Merner, John Patrick

Date of Birth
Service No.
5233
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Field Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders Died from heart failure in France
Other Biographical Details
Son of John and Alice Merner née Pettitt.

Toole, Richard

Date of Birth
Address
Shannon, Enniscorthy
Service No.
3930
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 Richard and Anne Toole née Byrne. Article in The People 1915

Born on July 14th

Bowles, Robert Charles

Date of Birth
Address
New Ross
Service No.
18662
Rank
Private
Regiment
Hampshire Regiment
14th Service Bn.
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds, France. Killed after the disbandment of his battalion.
Other Biographical Details

Son of William and Jane Bowles née Baird. Formerly served as Private No.19922 in the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Bowles was with the 14th Hampshire's in 39th Division which suffered huge casualties in the Ludendorff/German Spring Offensive.

Buried in Bellicourt British Cemetery in France.

Sample Records

Hearn, Mr. John

Posed sepia photograph, head and shoulders of Mr. John S. Hearn. Trimed mustache, wearing a hat and white button collar shirt with narrow knotted tie, waistcoat and top coat.
Date of Birth
Address
Ruane, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Rank
Passenger
Regiment
Civilian
RMS Leinster
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Civilian passenger on board R.M.S. Leinster which was sunk by torpedoes in the Irish Sea, 16 miles east of Dublin, shortly before 10am on the morning of 10th October 1918
Other Biographical Details

Mr. Hearn was involved with the Star Engineering works in Wexford and was also a significant employer in his native town of New Ross. He had been a member of the local Urban Council since 1899 and occupied the chair for several years. He was also chairman of the New Ross Technical Committee for a number of years and had represented the New Ross Division on Wexford County Council for the previous eleven years, having succeeded his brother, Mr. J.B. Hearn. 
Mr. Hearn's only son, Charles Denis Hearn, (C.D Hearn) was serving as an officer in the A.T.S. He was also survived by his brothers, James B. Hearn, Denis B. Hearn, Patrick Hearn, Dr. W.F. Hearn, solicitor, and Col. M. Hearn.
His Body was lost at sea.

Smyth, Michael

Date of Birth
Alias
Smith (Born)
Address
73 New Hedley Street, Boundary Street, Liverpool
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Mercantile Marine Reserve
HM Yacht Jason 2
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in the Naval hospital in Southampton
Other Biographical Details

Son of James and Anastatia Smith née Saunders of Wexford.
James Smith and Anastatia Saunders were married in Wexford where they had three children.  They left Wexford for Liverpool around 1882, where Michael was born.  They returned to Wexford around 1885. 
The 1911 Census shows the family at living in the Faythe.
Michael was husband to Mary Elizabeth Smyth née Finnegan of 73 New Hedley Street, Boundary Street, Liverpool. They married in Liverpool in 1906.  (Name spelt Smyth.)  He was an able seaman aboard the “HMS Wallington” when he died in the Naval hospital in Southampton 04/11/1917.  HMS Wallington was the Auxiliary Patrol base at Immingham from 6/11/1915. (It was a depot ship on the River Humber, with the work and administration being done in the Old Custom House, Grimsby and berthed at Immingham.)
Michael is buried in Ford (Roman Catholic) Cemetery in Liverpool.
His brother James served with 1st Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers. No: 12504.

Browne, James

Date of Birth
Address
Green Street, Wexford.
Service No.
9663
Rank
Private
Regiment
Leinster Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds. France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mr J. Browne of Green St, Wexford. Buried Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery, Houplines, France. Served as a machine gunner - killed while manning the machine gun in a defensive position.

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