Roche was born on 15 May 1885 in Chelsea, London.[1] He was the elder of twin sons of the Hon. James Roche (later 3rd Baron Fermoy) and his American wife, Frances Ellen Work.[2] The Roches separated in December 1886, with James Roche agreeing to relinquish custody of his sons to his wife's father, multi-millionaire stockbroker Frank Work, in exchange for Work paying Roche's debts.[3] From his parents' marriage, he had an elder sister, Cynthia Roche (who married Arthur Scott Burden and, after his death, Guy Fairfax Cary).[4]
He was educated at Harvard University and graduated in 1909.[5] As a condition of their inheritance, Work stipulated that Maurice and his twin brother Francis "shall assume and retain the name 'Work' in place of the name 'Roche'", and must not travel to Europe or marry a European; Maurice ignored the edicts.[6] Roche returned to England on succeeding to his father's Irish peerage in 1920.[7] He was a naturalized American citizen, but resumed British nationality following his succession to the title.[5]
Lord Fermoy was a member of the shooting party organized by King George VI on 5 February 1952, on the grounds of Sandringham, which was the King's last full day alive.[10]
On 17 September 1931, Lord Fermoy married Ruth Sylvia Gill at St. Devenick's, Bieldside, Aberdeenshire with a reception held at Dalhebity.[11] Ruth was the youngest daughter of Ruth (née Littlejohn) Gill and Col. William Smith Gill[1] Before his death, they were the parents of three children:
The Hon. Mary Cynthia Roche (1934–2023), who married the Hon. Anthony Berry, a son of Gomer Berry, 1st Viscount Kemsley.[12] They divorced in 1966 and she married Denis Geoghegan. They divorced in 1980 and she married Michael Gunningham. They divorced in 1989. Mary Roche later trained as a teacher. She died on 3 March 2023.[13]
His life was the subject of the book Lilac Days, by Gavan Naden and Maxine Riddington (HarperCollins (ISBN0-00-719863-9)), where it was claimed he had a 30-year affair with an American, Edith Travis.
