World War 1 walk in Gorey
- caldun09
- 15 hours ago
- 14 min read
Updated: 15 minutes ago
World War I recalled with Gorey town walk
I have participated in many events in Gorey over the years, but this war walk was the best. The weather was unkind and wet but over 30 people attended. The walk was led by Willy Willoughby to remember all the men from the Gorey area who fought in World War 1. Brian Kenny an expert on The Great War, joined the group and he was accompanied by 3 others dressed in World War 1 uniforms.
The first World War began on 28th of July 1914 and ended on the 11th of November 1918.
9000000 people were killed including over 500 Wexford men.
The war started with the assassination, in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austria-Hungarian power by Bosnian / Serb student Gavrilo Princip. Austria /Hungary declared war on Serbia and very soon Russia, Germany, France and Britain were involved.
It is interesting to note that women were excluded from the fighting, but women performed many of the roles held by men in the running of Gorey town in the absence of their menfolk during the war years.
We have been welcoming refugees to our town for the past few years but in 1914 we welcomed 29 Belgian refugees early in the war. They were well looked after. They had a good night on arrival in Gorey Town Hall on the Arklow Road. When they were leaving, they were entertained in the Railway Hotel [now Mc Governs] with music and food. Like the Ukrainians today some of the Belgians went home to fight for their country while others travelled on going to Rathdrum and Navan.
Gorey men began to join the British Army in 1914. Many young men were working long hours on the land for poor wages. More of them were working in dead end jobs and saw a chance that by joining the army they could get better wages for themselves and their families. They also wanted to see the world.
Start Of War Walk Grattan Street
We started our walk at 13 Grattan Street, which was the home of Michael Sullivan a sergeant in The Royal Irish Regiment and son of William and Mary. Michael was killed on Sunday May 9th, 1915, aged 40 years. He had only been home on leave in March. He was killed by shellfire on the South African.
Two Gorey men named John Walker and Patrick Howard were nearby and helped with his funeral. His Dad who hailed from Limerick died years later aged 92. His funeral cost £450 and was paid for by his daughter Mary Jane who lived in 18 Grattan Street.
Kynoch’s Ammunition Factory
On September 21st, 1917, there was a terrible disaster in Kynochs Ammunition Factory in Arklow on the North Beach when 5 men from Gorey were killed including James Crowe from Grattan Stret. He left a widow and 5 small children, the youngest of whom was just 1 month old. James, aged 40, lived at Number 14 with his family and father.
Number 6 Grattan Street was home to James Keegan aged 20 years who joined The Royal Engineers. He was commended for his bravery by his commanding officer. He had once been blinded by an explosion but recovered. James worked as a carpenter before joining the army.
Tomkins Garage
Coming down to what is now James Tomkins Garage we hear about Lance Corporal Henry Scully of the Royal Irish Rifles. He was aged 40, a native of Leskinfere and was killed in India on Tuesday June 17th, 1919. He was great grandfather of James Tomkins, and his body lies in India.
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William Street Gorey
We turned left on to William Street now known as Mc Curtain Street. Albert Dwyer who lived in Number 10 died on board HMS Natal on February 28th, 1917, aged 24 years, He had married an Irish girl in London just 5 moths before he died.
Private John Doyle lived on William Street as well. He was a member of The Royal Irish Regiment and died on 11/11/1915. He had been home on furlough a short time before his death
Joseph Devine was a member of the second battalion of the Dublin Fusiliers. He was killed on 7th February 1917 aged 22 years in Flanders, France. His father lived at Georges Street, and he had three brothers all of whom served in the army.
Thomas Nolan another native of William Street also served in the Great War.
William Connors of 35 William Street was working in Hutchinsons Shop [now Boots Chemist] in Main Street. He left there to join The Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He was killed in The Dardanelles aged 23. He left behind his widowed mother ,3 sisters and one brother who went off to join the army.
Michael Connors, Williams younger brother, had been working in London before joining up the fusiliers. He was killed on 9th September 1916 just one month after his brother, Michael was just 20 years old. His mother and sisters were totally devastated.
Charlotte Row
Now we move to Number 5 Charlotte Close where the current owner welcomed us. Samuel Freeman and Paddy Freeman lived here in this house built in 1912. Samuel was caretaker of the YMCA across the road. He worked as a cycle repair man. Sam died in February 1959
Paddy Freeman was sexton at Christchurch also across the road from their house
Paddy died in February 1961. This house was once an Orange Hall, and the family had a blacksmiths business at the rear.
During the war both brothers worked in the R.A.S.C. or Royal Army Service Corp and they survived the war. Both their names are on the plaque in Christchurch.
Sam mercer of 2 Charlotte Row enlisted in Gorey in the inland water Transport Section of The Royal Engineers where he became a corporal, He lived with his parents George and Anna. He had also lived in Delta Cottage on the Enniscorthy Road. Sam died in Mesopotamia and is buried in Iraq. His name is also commemorated on a plaque in Christchurch. His father, George Mercer worked in a local pharmacy and his mother was a teacher.
War readiness
The people of Gorey started preparing for war once it was declared on August 4th, 1914, with a meeting called in The Town Hall on the Arklow Road, A corps of National volunteers was formed to make ready for war. Dr Dwyer and Dr Nolan were to the fore in its formation. A ladies committee was formed. Some members were Mrs Dr Dwyer, Mrs Dr Nixon, Mrs Dr Nolan and Mrs Doran of the Railway Hoel. They were organising to have nurses on standby. Gorey was ready for war.
Christchurch
41 members of Christchurch joined the British Army and 4 never came home. They are all named on a wall plaque in Christchurch
It also lists six members of the Stopford family and three Bates brothers. There was a special service held in Christchurch on the fourth anniversary of the Great War in 1918 conducted by the local rector Rev Wat Gahan. He told the congregation to have
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complete confidence in the almighty and that the men were fighting for a noble cause. At the end of the service a collection was taken up for The North Wexford Prisoners of war fund.
The Graveyard
The rain poured down when we visited a few graves. We first visited the grave of Charles Hempenstall who had joined the British army as a member of The Irish Guards in 1915 and went to war. He survived the war and came home to work as a harness maker with his brother Jimmy. He died on September 2nd, 1953
While there we also visited the Kearon brother’s headstone. They were two brothers who died at sea on Nov 11th, 1917, and their graves are at sea. George Kearon was 18 and Edward Victor Kearon was 20 years old. They had lived on Coolgreaney Road, Arklow but were related to the Fiddler family of Clonattin, Gorey.
War Memorial
The select vestry agreed to erect a War Memorial on the grounds of Christchurch when it was suggested to them by Canon Mark Hayden. They commissioned local master craftsman Peter Kavanagh to build it. It is a true work of art with a Celtic Cross included with an inclusive text commemorating all those who died in the Great War, The War of Independence and the Civil War. The inscription reads a s follows “In loving memory of all men and women from Gorey who gave their lives in the 1914-18 war and subsequent conflicts. We will remember them”
It was unveiled on Remembrance Sunday 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.
The Avenue
Michael “The Lawyer” Kavanagh was a member of the staff of MJ O Connors solicitors who had their business on the Avenue. He joined the war effort as a despatch rider in The Motor Transport Section. He joined with his friend Thomas Doyle, and they did their training in Bermingham where Mr G Lombard, grandfather of Gary Lombard was manager
The Post Office
Private John Kenny who had worked in Gorey Post Office as a postman joined a regiment of The Irish Guards. He died of his wounds in Flanders on Wednesday September 12th, 1917, He had come through all the war without a scratch until that fateful day. He was a son of Michael and Mary Kenny of 9 William Street. Gorey
John J Mc Carthy was also working in the Post Office before he went off to join The Royal Engineers. He got a great send off at Gorey Railway station from his workmates. It is interesting to note that some women took up employment in the post office to replace the men. John survived the war.
Main Street
*Tom Reynolds was born in Gorey in 1897.He joined the RAF about 1915 and served during the First World War. At the end of the war, he returned to Gorey and went into business with his father and was involved with radio. He died on May 6th, 1975.
*Joseph Bass of Carrigbeg House, born on Sunday December 23rd, 1888, worked in Reynolds Shop and at Hutchinson’s store before joining the war. He was private in the 1st Battalion of The Irish Guards. He was struck by shrapnel near the village of Le Mensil and died on Thursday December 2nd, 1915, aged 26 years
Joseph was the son of Thomas Askins Bass and Esther Bass née Warren.Before going to the front Mr Bass was involved in Business in Gorey for several years in connection with the firm of W E Reynolds. He was cousin of Mr George Warren auctioneer. Just before he was killed, his company were in a very hot engagement and were about to be relieved when he was struck down.
*Corporal Peter Connolly also worked at Reynolds. He had been a prisoner of war. He performed a great act of bravery in rescuing fellow Gorey man Barney Doyle
*Private Edward Doyle, Main Street served in the 2nd King Edwards Horse Regiment and died on March 15th,1916
Thomas Street
Joseph Malone of 12 Thomas Street was one very brave soldier who died on November7th 1918 aged 23 years. His death occurred just 4 days before the Armistice. He had been home on leave on `October 28th and was killed by shell fire just 9 days later. During his service he had been wounded three times, once severely.
Lance Corporal Thomas Keane, machine gun corps, also from Thomas Street was killed on the front line on April1st 1918. He had been awarded The Military medal and ribbon for great bravery during the Battle of the Somme. This was the first medal of this kind awarded to any person in Gorey.
Michael Street
Joseph Mc Cloud lived at number 4. He joined the army Medical Corps on 21/08/1914 at the start of the war and returned home safely.
Main Street
Captain Richard Howe Creighton was given a commission in the Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was awarded the military cross for gallantry at The Battle of The Somme. He was wounded on December 18th, 1916. He was the son of Mr Michael Creighton who was clerk of Gorey Workhouse and chairman of Gorey Water and Gas Company. He lived at Doran’s hairdresser at 79 Main Street
Henry Gray lived across the road at 32 Main Street where the Bank of Ireland is now located. He finished up being a prisoner of war in Germany.
Thomas Doyle worked with his father Patrick in Their shop which was located at 76 Main Street where Mc Auley’s [Now Mc Cabe’s] chemist shop is now. Patrick was well known in Gorey being Chairman of Gorey Town Commissioners and a member of the town council. Thomas later joined the army as a despatch rider.
The Market House
There was panic at a meeting in the Market House on March 27th, 1915. Shopkeepers were warned to depart the town if the Germans landed on the east coast and to burn any goods left in their shops. People were very worried.
Later in the year on June 3rd. 1915 Lord Courtown held a public meeting outside The Market House to encourage young Gorey men to join the army and go to war. He promised the men that they would be home by Christmas. The Market house,
one of the oldest in the country was built in1709 and has seen its fair share of trouble from the 1847 Famine.1798 Rebellion, Easter Rising 1916, The Irish Civil War, the Great 1914/18 War and the 2nd World War.
The Arcade
Charles Cooke who was born in 1880 lived here in the Arcade. He was a brother of Mr James Cooke of The Medical Hall across the road.
He joined the British Army in 1903 and served in the First World War and was reported dead at the time. Later he was found alive but was a prisoner of war in Dusseldorf, Germany. Charles discharged himself from the army in April 1921 after 18 years’ service aged 48 years. He lived in London and became a postman. During his army life Charles was presented with three medals, The Star, British War Medal and The Victory Medal. Charles died in a mental hospital in England in 1934 aged 54 years. His body was brought home to Gorey, Co. Wexford for burial.
*John Stafford who worked in the drapery department in the Arcade shop and was well liked in the shop and around town went off and joined The Enniskillen Fusiliers. He died on August 11th, 1915.
Gorey People during the war
As soon as war was declared an order was given to purchase as many horses as possible. A Mr Ellis who lived out near the old leather factory had a motor car and drove around buying up horses paying £40 each. Farmers also brought their horses to fairs to sell then. It was a great sight to see so many horses lined up in towns and villages and all of them going to war. Huge numbers of them died in the battlefield which many people regarded as waste
Church Street
Patrick Keane lived in 5 Church Street, Gorey where 14 people lived according to the 1911 census, He was the son of Patrick and Katie Keane. He died aged 24 years on the battlefield on October 8th, 1918. The war ended at 11am on November 11th, 1918, so it was sad that James died so close to the end of the war.
The Bates Family
Leslie Bates had an electrical shop next to the Garda Barracks. He joined the war but came home safely
Percy Bates was held as a prisoner of war and likewise came home safely but shell shocked. He worked in the family business when he came home
Ernest William Bates joined The Royal Engineers. When writing home his regular request was for more smokes. He survived the war but was killed in a car crash in England in1953.
North Parade
William Veney was born on May 6th, 1887, on William Street Gorey son of Frederick and Margaret Veney [Nee Wallace] and the family lived in North Parade. It is interesting to note that he had worked as a cart maker in Bates Coach works for 4 years. He emigrated to Australia in 1914 and joined the Australian Imperial Forces as a private. He left from Melbourne heading for France to fight on the Western Front. He was killed in action on Saturday 5th August 1916 aged 29 years.
It is interesting to note that explosives blew up Williams fathers house a few days after an RIC man was killed on May 7th, 1921
Charles Spenser from Esmonde Street was killed on Monday September 14th, 1914, in Flanders aged 32 years He was a member of the 2nd Battalion of the Connaught Rangers. He left a wife and two children. It is equally interesting that Charles also worked at Bates as a car driver
St Michaels Place
Jack Wallace, born in 5 Wexford Street and who lived in No 2 St Michaels Place died o 28th of August aged 28 years and is buried in France. Jack was a great uncle of Michael Reddy, Gorey.
CBS School
Flight Lieutenant Matthew Maguire, born in Ballycanew was a member of The Royal Flying Corps.He was shot over Turkish Lines and died from burns on Saturday April 28th, 1917, aged 21 years. Matthew was awarded The Military Cross. His old school mates at The Christian Brothers School Gorey sadly missed him. The Maguire family still live in Ballycanew.
Centenary Place
Joseph Kinch, son of Henry and Mary Kinch, lived in Number 3, The Rookery or Centenary Place with his wife [Elizabeth Tyndall and their two children. He joined the war and was a sapper in the Royal Engineers. He was injured in Flanders and died in hospital there on Sunday June 11th, 1916. Joseph was 51 years of age. Prior to joining the war effort Joe worked as a harness maker in Bates Coach Works.
Also killed in Flanders on Monday October 19th, 2014, was Edward Kennedy aged 20 years after a short spell in the army. He was a member of the second battalion of The Royal Irish Regiment. He was son of Owen and Sarah Kennedy of 6 Centenary Place.
Edward was one of a family of eight brothers and sisters.
Grattan Terrace
Captain Sean Mahon lived with his mother at. 5 Grattan Terrace. Sean enlisted in the army and during the war he wrote a letter to his mother asking her to please send him a few cigarettes, shirts, and socks. He requested her to ask Fr Redmond to say a few prayers for him and that he said the rosary every night and if it was Gods will that he be killed he was ready to answer the call and go to the next world.
St Michaels Church Gorey
Rev Fr Hanton was a much-loved priest in Gorey and was president of the Gorey branch of The Gaelic League. He volunteered for service as an army chaplain on the front line. His many friends in Gorey prayed for his safe return, which he did.
Gorey Railway Station
In the final stop of this amazing, stamina sapping World War 1 Odyssey, we stopped at Gorey Railway Station. This was the scene of some very emotional tearful scenes for many families as they bid farewell to loved ones going to the front line knowing that they might never return. It was also the venue for some very joyous scenes for some families who were lucky enough to welcome home loved ones and heroes.
The End of Hostilities
On Monday the 11th day of the 11th month 1918 at 11am. In a railway carriage in France after 4 years and 3 months Germany admitted defeat and signed an armistice. When word reached Gorey the bells of Christchurch were rung with great joy. Barrels with fires blazed all round town and a dance was held in the school. Young and old people were relieved that we had peace at last. The war started on a Tuesday and finished on a Monday 4 years later.
Reflection at the Railway Station
We stopped and reflected, in Gorey Railway Station, on all the men who died in the many battle fields of The Great War.
Willy Willoughby quoted a few lines from “For the Fallen “written by Laurence Binyon on a cliff on the Cornish Coast in Mid-September 1914, a few weeks after the outbreak of The First World War. Here I give you a verse of “For the Fallen”
They went with songs to the battle, they were young,Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted:They fell with their faces to the foe.
Buíochas
At the end of the Gorey War Walk, Gerard Fleming, Secretary of North Wexford Historical Society, thanked everyone who attended the event in such bad weather. He expressed a special word of gratitude to the intrepid Willie Willoughby for all his research and writing for this great war walk.
Thanks, were also extended to World War 1 expert Brian Kenny and friends who came to Wexford in World 1 uniforms which added greatly to the sense of occasion
Personal Thanks
I would like to thank Willlie Willoughby for readily providing his extensive notes and other material to me in writing up the account of the walk. I thank him for his courtesy and infectious enthusiasm in spreading local history news. Without his help I could not have written up this account.
RIP Willie Willoughby
I felt privileged when Willie invited me into his house to share his World War 1 notes about the War and Gorey. I had agreed to go over them with him and to type them up to preserve the historical information for future generations of Gorey people.
We lived close by and it was easy to pop in and check any details with him. Willie was a great character and was so unselfish wanting to share his knowledge of the history of Gorey with everyone. I remember when I finished typing it, he was very happy with it, and I assured him that I would circulate it for him which I am now doing on www.aramblersblog.com. Please share it with any Gorey people you know all over the world as a tribute to the great man.
Sadly, Willie died on March 17th. 2026. May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam uasal. Guím leaba I measc na naomh go raibh ag Willie
Mick O Callaghan, April 29 th 2026
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