In 1887 he joined the
1st (Royal) Dragoons. He left the Royal Dragoons in 1890 but served again in the British Army in the
Boer War of 1899–1902. Vaughan served in several horse troops, mainly in
Rimington's Guides and their successor unit Damant's Horse. While in this unit, Sergeant Vaughan was mentioned for bravery under fire and awarded the DCM. In October 1901 he joined Ross's Canadian Scouts, an anti-
commando outfit previously led by
Arthur L. Howard, When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Vaughan was prominent in recruiting a new regiment in South Wales, the
Welsh Horse Yeomanry, hoping - in vain, as it turned out - to be given command. Temporary Lt.-Col. Vaughan of the Labour Corps was awarded the
DSO in the
1919 New Year Honours. ==Literary career and later life==