Colonel John Francis Vaughan served with the Monmouthshire Regiment for forty years. When war broke out in the Crimea, his regiment were not permitted to fight overseas, being Militia and not regular army. Colonel Vaughan, however, paid his own fare, and travelled to the Crimea nonetheless. Observing the horrendous conditions under which fighting men had to live, he was moved to write an influential pamphlet, published anonymously, on the subject.