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 April 28th

Barnwell, Sylvester

Date of Birth
Service No.
187231
Rank
Private
Regiment
Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)
8th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in the Battle of Arleux, France, 28-29 April 1917
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas and Mary Barnwell née Somers of Mayglass, Ballycogley, Co. Wexford.

Dickinson, William John

Date of Birth
Service No.
Ch./1354 (S)
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Marine Light Infantry
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Result of enemy action
Other Biographical Details
Nephew of Mrs Alice Wragg. 671, Victoria Terrace, Heaton Mersey, North Manchester. Son of William James and Mary Jane Dickinson nee Tyrrell. His father was a clerk and later a contractor. The 1901 Census shows him living with his grandfather, John Tyrrell, a master mariner at 3 South Circular Road, Limerick. The 1911 Census shows his widowed mother at 18 New Road, Limerick. Children present were William (19, a bakery clerk), Kezia Alice (18), Richard (16), Elizabeth (4).

Grennell, Richard P.

Date of Birth
Alias
Thomas Kelly, Grennel, Grannell
Address
52 Lowe St. Gisborn.
Service No.
10/3315
Rank
Private
Regiment
Wellington Infantry
2nd Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died of Disease (Pneumonia) while on active service, France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Richard and Mary Grannel née Brien (or Bryan possibly Tomhaggard) of Castle Hill Street, Wexford. Husband of Mary Ann Grennell née Nolan, Bond Street, Liverpool and father to Elizabeth b. Feb 1908 Liverpool. Occupation at time of enlistment was marine firemen.

Recorded as enlisting under an assumed name of Thomas Kelly but this may have been a clerical error on the part of the military. Corrected after death.
Buried Cimetière Saint-Pierre, Marseille, France.

Keilty, Thomas

Date of Birth
Alias
Kielthy
Address
5 Haughton Place, New Ross, Co. Wexford.
Service No.
40346
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Dublin Fusiliers
10th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action France and Flanders
Other Biographical Details

Son of Mrs Ellen Kielthy of 5 Houghton Place, New Ross, Co.Wexford. Son of James Kielthy above.

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.

Whitford, Myles

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary E. Whitford nee Donohoe of Enniscorthy.

Born on April 28th

Ruth, John, Joseph

Date of Birth
Address
Cornmarket, Wexford
Service No.
285819
Rank
Gunner
Regiment
Royal Garrison Artillery
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
TB at Central Military Hospital, Cork
Other Biographical Details

Brother of Mrs Anna Liza Murphy, 8 Nelson St., Widnes, Lancashire. Occupation on enlistment was gardener. Formerly he served with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, No. 1966.
Buried in Cork Military Cemetery Park, Cork.

Whelan, Michael

Date of Birth
Address
Rathaspick, Co. Wexford
Service No.
8917
Rank
Private
Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment
2nd Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in Action during the battle of Le Pilly on October 19, 1914. His body was never recovered but his name is listed on the Le Touret Memorial in the Pas de Calais region of northern France.
Other Biographical Details

Son of John Whelan, a labourer and Elizabeth née Carroll. No known grave. His name is inscribed on the Le Touret Monument in Pas de Calais.

Sample Records

Elmes, King

Date of Birth
Rank
Captain
Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
attached 2nd/16th Battalion London Regiment
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in Belgium
Other Biographical Details

Son of Thomas Samuel and Ruth Mary Elmes née Robinson of Robinstown House, Palace East, New Ross, Co. Wexford. 

Cullimore, George Henry

Posed photograph of a young George taken before enlistment.
Date of Birth
Address
London
Service No.
20505
Rank
Private
Regiment
Connaught Rangers
1st Battalion
Medals
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Died in Egypt.
Other Biographical Details

Son of Joseph Albert and Elizabeth Teresa Cullimore née Harpur of Clarence House, Wexford. Grandson of Moses Harpur, 57 South Main Street, Wexford. Formerly enlisted in Royal Innisskilling Fusiliers and no. 5101, 1st & 2nd Batt 8th London Regiment. Brother of Joseph Albert Cullimore.

Whitford, Myles

Date of Birth
Address
Templeshannon, Enniscorthy
Rank
2nd Lieutenant
Regiment
Royal Irish Rifles
7th Battalion
Date of Death
Circumstances of Death
Killed in action in France
Other Biographical Details

Son of John and Mary E. Whitford nee Donohoe of Enniscorthy.

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