ROUGHAN, John. Troop Serjeant Major. 9th Lancers.
Born at Drumcliff, County Clare c1844. By occupation a clerk, he enlisted for 12 years on the 16 March, 1863, witnessed by James Naughton and signed by Lieut.-Col William Drysdale.
The regiment set up Camps at Dundalk, Curragh, Dublin and Newbridge then onto Hounslow, Aldershot, Woolwich, York and to Colchester. He was made Corporal 4 September, 1867.

He Married Elizabeth May Duffy daughter of Owen Duffy and Betsy May at Isleworth 6th November, 1870.

Promoted to Serjeant on 1 February, 1871 and to Troop Serjeant 11 November, 1874. He re-enlisted at Colchester to complete 21 years service on 10 November, 1874. Roughan sailed for India 8 January, 1875 on the H.M.T Euphrates, landing at Bombay on the 11 February, 1875. Stationed at Sialkot 9 March, 1875. He was employed as Cashmere Escort to H.R.H the Prince of Wales 1876 returning home in 1877. They had two sons Private Oswald Stephen, Sgt Herbert Joseph both of the 6th Dragoons and a daughter May Mary.
He was sent back to India and arrived there on 16 December, 1878, then was posted to Afghanistan on 13 March, 1879 where he served in the war of 1878-80. Roughan took part in the march to Kandahar and so earned the Afghan Medal 1878-79-80 (clasps Kabul, Kandahar) and the Kabul to Kandahar Star. He arrived back in England 5 May, 1882 having earned the LS&GC Medal on 14 December, 1881, and was discharged in March, 1884.
He obtained a position with the Royal Parks Department and rose to Inspector, serving for 24 years.

On 17 December, 1893 Roughan was sworn in as a Yeoman in Ordinary of Her Majesty's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, later becoming Serjeant Major of the Guard.
In 1889 his wife died leaving him with the three children.
He remarried in 1892 at St George's Hanover Square to Frances Sarah Passey they had two sons, James Martin L/Cpl 9th Lancers, Private John Edward 17th Lancers and the Queens Regiment they also had a Daughter Veva
On 12 December, 1932, he died at Ashford, Staines, Middlesex, aged 87 years, leaving his widow, two daughters and four sons, Oswald and Herbert had served in the Boer War and were awarded the Queens South Africa Medal and the Kings South Africa Medal, all four of his sons served in WW1, as well as campaigns in India and Ireland
He was laid to rest Ashford cemetery his wife Frances and daughter Veva(Latreille) were later to be buried with him.
According to at least one obituary, amongst his most prized possessions was a signed photograph of Lord Roberts bearing the inscription: 'in remembrance of Afghanistan'. He was equally proud of another photograph of King Edward VII, this having been signed by King George V and presented to him in recognition of his work during the late Monarch's lying in State. His medals were auctioned at Spink in November, 1998 and were on display at the Orders and Medals Research Society Convention in 2000:- Afghan Medal (Kabul, Kandahar Clasps), Kabul to Kandahar Star, Jubilee 1897 (bronze privately engraved J. Roughan. Yeoman of H.M.R.B. Guard), Coronation Medals 1902 (bronze) and 1911, LS & GC and Imperial Service Medal (Edward VII) with photographs. The lot was offered again in the March sale. 2002, by Dix, Noonan & Webb, and realised £1,750, (267)

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