John Roughan was born at Drumcliff, County Clare in 1844. He worked as a clerk but enlisted in the 9th Lancers on 16 Mar 1863. The regiment was posted to Ireland at the time but went to Hounslow and other parts of England. He was promoted to corporal on 4 Sep 1864 and married to Elizabeth May Duffy on 6 Nov 1870, then promoted to Sergeant on 1 Feb 1871. The 9th sailed to India in January 1875 on HMT Euphrates and reached Sialkot on 9 Mar 1875. The following year he acted as escort to the Prince of Wales and returned to England in 1877. Elizabeth had two sons; Oswald Stephen and Herbert Joseph who both served in the Inniskilling Dragoons, and a daughter, May Mary. On returning to India John Roughan went on war service in Afghanistan and took part in the Kabul to Kandahar march. He came back to England in 1882 and was discharged in March 1884 with the rank of Troop Sergeant Major.
In civilian life, John worked in the Royal Parks Department and became an inspector. On 17 Dec 1893 he was sworn as a Yeoman of the Guard and rose to the rank of Sergeant Major of the Guard. Elizabeth died in 1889 but he remarried in 1892 to Frances Sarah Passey. They also had two sons and a daughter; James Martin, John Edward and Veva. John died on 12 December 1932 and was buried in Ashford Cemetery, Staines, Middlesex. His medals were sold by Spink in November 1998, and again at Dix Noonan Webb in March 2002.
John's sired many cavalrymen. His eldest son Oswald Stephen served in the 6th Dragoons. as did his second son Herbert Joseph Roughan. His third son served in his own regiment the 9th Lancers. His fourth son served in the 17th Lancers. His fifth son was also a soldier but his regiment is unknown.
You can find more information on John Roughan's life, family and career at: http://martinroughan.co.uk/. The picture below shows John in retirement with his second wife Frances Sarah Passey.
