Roll of Honor
Incident
Between one and two o’clock in the morning of 23rd December 1856, PC Vaughan and another officer arrested two drunken men for causing a disturbance after being refused entry to a public house in Chester Street, Birkenhead. The officers were escorting the men to the nearby police station when, as they entered Bridge Street, one of the men attempted to escape and a scuffle broke out during which William was stabbed in the chest, with the blade piercing his heart.
PC Vaughan died in the police station about twenty minutes later.
He was survived by his elderly mother and his sister. It was reported that his father had been killed while serving with the Royal Irish Constabulary.
Survivors
He was survived by his elderly mother and his sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-GB-BBP-72592C87- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 8, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
170 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Constable Vaughan served with the Birkenhead Borough Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Constable William Vaughan is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Birkenhead Borough Police, 5 of 11 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 45.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. William Vaughan's cause is highlighted.
How William Vaughan Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William Vaughan is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Others Who Wore This Badge
10 officers from Birkenhead Borough Police are honored on badge.nw.
