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 4th

Kent, Walter

Date of Birth
Address
Duncannon
Service No.
4898
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France
Other Biographical Details
Son of Mary Ellen Kent, Duncannon, husband of Alice, Main Street, Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork.

Lambert, Nicholas John

Address
Tagoat
Service No.
43013
Rank
Private
Regiment
Welsh Regiment
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Mesopotamia
Other Biographical Details

Son of William

Murphy, James Charles.

Address
Doonooney, Co.Wexford
Service No.
10907
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details
Sole legatee Mrs Margaret Morris, 13 Warburton Street, Liverpool.

Born on July 4th

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.

Copeland, James

Date of Birth
Address
Enniscorthy.
Service No.
5432
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 Margaret Copeland nee Dillon, 14 Court Street, Enniscorthy.

Lyons, John

Date of Birth
Address
Dublin
Service No.
9030
Rank
Corporal
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in France and Flanders Died at The Curragh Military Hospital from heart disease.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Mary Lyons of 9 William Place, Sheriff Street, Dublin. Son of John and Elizabeth Lyons nee Mansfield.

Sample Records

Redmond, William Hoey Kearney

Date of Birth
Alias
Willie Redmond.
Address
Glenbrook, Delgany, Co.Wicklow and Palace Manshions, Kensington, London.
Rank
Major
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
6th Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Wound received in an attack at Wytschaete Wood in Belgium after being injured by a shell.
Other Biographical Details

Husband of Eleanor Redmond. Nationalist Member of Parliament for Wexford since 1884. Awarded the Legion of Honour (France). One of the rare people to be buried abroad during WW1 in a coffin. Son of William Archer and Mary Redmond née Hoey. Younger brother of John E. Redmond MP and Leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.

Maguire, Matthew Lawrence

Date of Birth
Address
Gorey
Rank
Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Flying Corps
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of wounds in Turkish hands
Other Biographical Details

Son of James Maguire, J.P. and of Dora Maguire nee Gahan of Tomgar House, Ballycanew, Gorey. Formerly Connaught Rangers.

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.

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