Vaughan, William Michael

The Vaughan family estate of Courtfield was situated in Welsh Bicknor, which is now in Herefordshire, but was formerly in Monmouthshire. The family was closely involved with the Monmouthshire Militia and its successor regiments from the mid nineteenth century, with four generations serving as officers, and two being Commanding Officers.

John Francis Vaughan joined the Royal Monmouthshire Militia as a Captain in 1836, and was promoted to Major in 1847. Alongside Lt Col Clifford, he played a major part in the reformation of the militia as the Royal Monmouthshire Light Infantry in the early 1850s, and became Lt. Col. and Commanding Officer of the Regiment in 1853, a position he held until his retirement in 1877.

He felt strongly about the Crimean War, and although the Regiment was not posted there, he went out to the Crimea along with many other volunteers from the Regiment and served with the 23rd Foot (The Royal Welch Fusiliers). His diary about the conditions and events he witnessed was used as the basis of a booklet ‘The Soldier in Peace and War’ which he published anonymously upon his return.

Towards the end of his career, Vaughan encouraged the change of the regiment from infantry to a corps of engineers, which he advised on shortly before his retirement in 1877.

J. F. Vaughan’s son, Francis Baynham, joined the Regiment as Captain in 1877, was promoted to Major in 1883, and was Commanding Officer 1890-1895.

Charles Jerome Vaughan was the third generation to serve, seeing active service as a Captain with No.4 (Seige) Company, in the Ypres Salient during World War 1. His personal diary written during the winter of 1914-1915 details the activities of the company and the conditions. C.J. Vaughan was Colonel of the Regiment from 1938-1948.

Joseph Herbert Vaughan, son of C.J. Vaughan, joined the Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant 1933, and served first as Captain and then as Major of 101 Company in France during the Second World War. He continued to serve as a Major in the reformed postwar Regiment until 1950.

From the guide to the Vaughan Family of Courtfield, Family and Military Papers, 1828-1940, (Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia), Castle and Regimental Museum)