Lance Corporal Walter Vaughan
Walter Vaughan was born on 16 July 1891 at Moyallon, County Down, the last of four children of National School teacher Thomas Vaughan and his wife Margaret (nee Robinson). The 1911 census shows him living with his parents and sister at Killycomain, Portadown, County Armagh and "assisting at home".
Vaughan enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 20 August and 16 September 1910 (No.538 – later Corps of Hussars No.71034). He embarked for France with C Squadron on 20 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
The Northern Whig of 28 December 1914 reported that:
Trooper Walter Vaughan, North Irish Horse, has arrived home on leave. He has taken part in several engagements.
Vaughan was also mentioned in a letter written by Private Isaac Walker in March 1915, which was published in the Portadown News.
I arrived back here all right, and am going on just as usual, I am sending you a little cutting from the paper which concerns us. Other voluntary regiments claim to be under fire first. It is contradicted and explained, that we were the first to be under fire. I and Walter Vaughan were the ones out of Seagoe Parish who were with the N.I.H. on the retirement from Mons. Milton Boyle, of Drumcree Parish, and William Morton, of Ardmore Parish, were also with us. So there were only four from Portadown serving with the N.I.H. I am glad to say we are all safe and sound yet. We had a Church service today, but I did not get to it. Everyone likes to attend, but we can't all get. I think this is all at present. Thanking you for your kindness. I only wish this war was over till we all get back.
Vaughan remained with the regiment through much of the war. At some stage he was either wounded, injured or fell ill. He returned to Ireland, and on 23 April 1918 was discharged as being no longer physically fit for military service (paragraph 392(xvi) King's Regulations).
After the war Vaughan took up farming at Birch Hill, Portadown. On 10 July 1919 he married Norah Yolande Bell, daughter of Francis Bell, a 'private gentleman', at the 1st Presbyterian Church, Armagh.
He died on 2 June 1954 at Lurgan and Portadown District Hospital and was buried in the Seagoe Cemetery.
Vaughan's brother Thomas John served in the war as a lance sergeant in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards. Captured at the Battle of Mons on 23 August 1914, he was held as a prisoner for the duration of the war.
Thomas John Vaughan (image sourced from Ancestry, contributor 'shemike')