Born in Southwark, London.
Enlisted at London on the 20th of November 1854.
Age: 20.
Height: 5' 6".
Trade: Hatter.
Appearance: Dark complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial at Hounslow on the 15th of May 1858, for "having been drunk when returning in charge of an escort to the Detachment Barracks at Hounslow." Reduced to Private and imprisoned from the 13th of April 1858 — 9th of September 1858.
Sent to the Cavalry Depot when the Regiment went to India. 25th of July 1866.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of September 1866.
Re-engaged into the 17th Lancers as a Private on the 23rd of November 1866. Regimental No. 1022.
From Private to Corporal: 2nd of September 1867.
Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of February 1871.
Transferred to the Westmoreland Yeomanry "to complete his term of service", on the 3rd of June 1875.
Discharged from Dublin on the 22nd of November 1875 as "Free to pension, at own request, after 21 years service."
Served 21 years 15 days.
In Turkey and the Crimea: 1 year.
Three times entered in the Regimental Defaulters' book. Once tried by Court-martial.
Conduct and character: "good". Would have now been in possession of four Good Conduct badges if not promoted.
To live at Strickland Place, Kendal, Westmoreland.
Next-of-kin. Wife, Sarah. Is shown on the Regimental "Married roll" from the 26th of March 1869. There were four children in the family at the time of his discharge.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 22nd of November 1875. He was then named as John Doren.
[RM: The 1881 ensus shows him as "Doren", born Southwark, a Warder, Convict prison, aged 46, living at 26 Manchester Rd, Kensington. His wife Sarah is shown as are 3 daughters and one son all born during his service in the Army, at Edinburgh, Hounslow, Ireland and Westmorland. By 1891 he was a Customs Officer living at 2 Holton Terrace West Ham, and in 1901 a Commercial Clerk living at Holybank St West Ham.]
See picture of John Doran (named as Doren) in the uniform of the 17th Lancers and taken from the "Military Mail" of the 29th of December 1881, in the 17th Lancer file. In the text it said that after leaving the Service he served as an officer in the Customs, and that although not shown in the picture, he was wearing long service badges, a custom still apparently in existence when the picture was taken. The three medals to which he was entitled are just discernible.