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 6th

Birney, John

Date of Birth
Service No.
2942
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
France and Flanders, Killed in Action
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick & Ellen Birney née Cuffe, Strahart, Ferns, Co. Wexford. Killed just after first battle of Ypres. 

Murphy, Thomas

Date of Birth
Service No.
2634.B.
Rank
Seaman
Regiment
Royal Naval Reserve
SS Florizel
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed by a huge explosion at Halifax, Nova Scotia
Other Biographical Details
Mother: Ellen, William Street, Wexford, the son of George and Ellen Murphy née Neville. His father was a fisherman. The 1901 Census shows the family at 38 William Street, Wexford. Thomas was then an apprentice.

Neill, John Henry

Date of Birth
Service No.
210584
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Severn
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned (on Birthday)
Other Biographical Details
Son of John Henry and Mary Grace Neill nee Mitchell of Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. The 1901 Census shows his parents at 94 Irish Street, Enniscorthy. Children were William (15), Grace (12), Gordon (10) and Robert (7). His father, born Queen's County was a retired RIC Sergeant. His mother was born in Co. Waterford. Brother of Henry above

Norris, Thomas Stephen

Date of Birth
Address
Dublin
Service No.
3647
Rank
Private
Regiment
Irish Guards
1st Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

He enlisted as 67665 Constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1914. Son of William and Anne Norris nee Cowman, of Kilbranish South, Newtownbarry, Co. Wexford. Named George at birth.

Born on December 6th

Neill, John Henry

Date of Birth
Service No.
210584
Rank
Able Seaman
Regiment
Royal Navy
HMS Severn
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Accidentally drowned (on Birthday)
Other Biographical Details
Son of John Henry and Mary Grace Neill nee Mitchell of Abbeyleix, Queen's Co. The 1901 Census shows his parents at 94 Irish Street, Enniscorthy. Children were William (15), Grace (12), Gordon (10) and Robert (7). His father, born Queen's County was a retired RIC Sergeant. His mother was born in Co. Waterford. Brother of Henry above

O’Brien, Arthur

Date of Birth
Address
8 Upper Bride Street, Wexford
Service No.
4172
Rank
Sergeant
Regiment
Royal Munster Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Patrick and Jane O'Brien née Murphy. Husband of Mrs Martha O'Brien nee O'Brien of 8 Upper Bride Street, Wexford. Article in a Wexford newspaper. Son of Mr. Patrick O'Brien of John Street, Wexford. Article in The People 1916.

Sinnott, Michael Peter

Date of Birth
Address
Cahore, Gorey
Rank
Wireless Operator
Regiment
Mercantile Marine
HMS Glenart Castle
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Torpedoed by German Submarine. She was heading for Brest to load wounded.
Other Biographical Details
Son of Julia Anne Sinnott of Cahore, Gorey and the late Peter Sinnott. Son of Peter and Julia Anne Sinnott née Doran

Sample Records

Doyle, Jeremiah

Date of Birth
Address
Wexford
Service No.
22839
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Maria Doyle.

Breen, Thomas

Date of Birth
Address
4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy.
Service No.
4370
Rank
Lance Corporal
Regiment
Manchester Regiment
11th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Wounded while fighting in the Dardanellas. Died at Sea on hospital ship enroute to Malta
Other Biographical Details

The son of James and Margaret Breen née Habernathy of 66 Ross Rd, Enniscorthy. Brother of James Breen (4387) Irish Guards, 1st Battalion, who was killed less than fours months earlier in France during The Battle of Festubert (15–25 May 1915. Husband of Margaret Breen née Nolan of 4 Patrick's Place, Enniscorthy. Thomas left a window and two children. Remembered on Panel 158 - 170, Helles Memorial, Turkey.

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.

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