William Hall

Died

21 December 1867

Age

Rank

Acting Sergeant

Force

Northumberland County Constabulary

Cause

Drowned

Duty Status

On Duty

Roll of Honour Citation

Found dead on the beach in suspicious circumstances after failing to return from his night beat in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea.

Roll of Honour Citation

Found dead on the beach in suspicious circumstances after failing to return from his night beat in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea.

Circumstances

Found drowned in suspicious circumstances on a stormy night.

Acting Sergeant Hall left his police station in Newbiggin-By-The-Sea shortly after 6:00pm on the evening of Friday 20th December 1867 to undertake his usual nightly rounds.

The local coastguard spoke to him in front of the Wesleyan Chapel between midnight and 1:00am on Saturday morning but William was never again seen alive.

When William failed to return to his station on time, a local Constable and Sergeant set out to locate him but despite an extensive search they were unable to do so.

Later that day a fisherman and pitman found the officer’s body on the beach near Lynemouth, about two miles north of Newbiggin-By-The-Sea, but did not recognise him due to serious injuries to William’s face. His left eye was missing, having seemingly been gouged out, and there was significant discolouration around his right eye.

Although most of his possessions were found with him, William’s fob watch pocket was turned inside-out and the watch was missing. His hat was also missing but was later found, still dry, near the Wesleyan Chapel.

Despite numerous enquiries no conclusive evidence to the cause of William’s death was ever found though it was strongly suspected that he had been murdered and thrown into the sea by two prize-fighters who were in the town at the time and who left before the officer’s body was found.