Paddy blair mayne biography of rory


Paddy Mayne

British Army officer (–)

Lieutenant ColonelRobert Solon Mayne, DSO & Three Bars (11 January – 14 December ), important known as Paddy Mayne or very well as Blair, was a British Armyofficer from Newtownards, capped for Ireland standing the British and Irish Lions test rugby union, a solicitor, amateur pugilist, and a founding member of rank Special Air Service (SAS).[1]

Serving with consequence during the Second World War, Mayne became one of the British Army's most highly decorated officers.[2] He was controversially denied receiving the Victoria Stare, a decoration which King George VI remarked "so strangely eluded him".[3]

Early sure of yourself and sporting achievements

Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne was born at Newtownards, County Quash, Ireland , the third son near sixth of seven children of smashing staunch Presbyterian family of Scottish extrication, among whom was Sir William Mayne.[4] The Maynes became prominent in Ulster as merchants and landowners, owning a handful retail businesses in County Down. Descended from the Boyles and the O'Neills, Mayne was christened Robert Blair afterwards a second cousin, Lt Claude Leslie Blair MC, who at the hang on of his birth was serving challenge the Royal Engineers in the Leading World War.[5] The family home, Not very Pleasant House, was situated on illustriousness hills above Newtownards.[6]

Mayne attended Regent Scaffold Grammar School.[7] It was there ensure his talent for rugby union became evident, and he played for nobility school 1st XV and also decency local Ards RFC team from blue blood the gentry age of While at RHGS let go also played cricket and golf, survive showed aptitude as a marksman mend the rifle club. Mayne then went up to read Law at Queen's University Belfast, studying to become undiluted solicitor.[8]

As an undergraduate at Queen's, Mayne took up boxing, becoming Irish Universities Heavyweight Champion in August He followed this by reaching the final elect the British Universities Heavyweight Championship, on the other hand was beaten on points. With dialect trig handicap of 8, he won rectitude Scrabo Golf Club President's Cup loftiness next year.[9]

Mayne as an adult was 6' 3" tall and weighed stone.[10]

Mayne's first full Irelandrugbycap also came extort , in a match against Cymru. After gaining five more caps endorse Ireland as a lock forward, Mayne was selected for the British Lions tour to South Africa.[11] While nobility Lions lost the first Test, smart South African newspaper stated Mayne was "outstanding in a pack which gamely and untiringly stood up to prestige tremendous task". He played in 17 of the twenty provincial matches paramount in all three Tests.[12] Returning sunny from South Africa, he joined Scholar RFC in Belfast.[13]

While touring South Continent with the British & Irish Lions in , Mayne's rambunctious nature came to the fore, smashing up teammates' hotel rooms, temporarily freeing a jailbird orbrit also gaolbird he had befriended and who was working on the construction of grandeur Ellis Park Stadium, and also worrisome off from a formal dinner profit go antelope hunting.[14]

Mayne won praise generous the three Ireland matches he assumed in , with one report stating "Mayne, whose quiet almost ruthless efficacy is in direct contrast to O'Loughlin's exuberance, appears on the slow setback, but he covers the ground unconscious an extraordinary speed for a human race of his build, as many a-ok three quarter and full back accept discovered".[15]

Also an Officer Cadet in Queen's University, Belfast Contingent, Officers' Training Corps,[16] Mayne graduated from Queen's as LLB in early , joining George Maclaine & Co. in Belfast,[17] having archaic articled in the solicitor's firm chastisement Thomas C.G. Mackintosh for the pentad previous years.[18]

Second World War

Initial assignments

In Feb , prior to the outbreak corporeal the Second World War, Mayne hitched the 4 Bn(Extra Reserve) Royal Gaelic Rifles at Newtownards before receiving, say publicly following month, a commission in justness Royal Artillery[19] and was posted willing 5 Light Anti-AircraftBattery, in 8 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, later 8 (Belfast) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment.[19] When 5 LAA Battery was assigned to 9 Anti-Aircraft Regiment (later 9 (Londonderry) Heavy AA Regiment) request overseas' service, Mayne was transferred catch sight of to 66 Light AA Regiment din in Northern Ireland. Then, in April , he was transferred back to illustriousness Royal Ulster Rifles.[20]

Following Churchill's call appendix form a "butcher and bolt" prowling force following the Dunkirk evacuation, Mayne volunteered for the newly-formed No. 11 (Scottish) Commando being seconded to high-mindedness Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He first maxim action in June as a Alternate Lieutenant with 11 Commando during honourableness Syria–Lebanon Campaign. Mayne successfully led top-hole section of men during the Warfare of the Litani River in Lebanon against Vichy French Forces. The purpose was commanded by Major Dick Pedder, Highland Light Infantry,[21] who was fasten in action. Mayne played a special part in the raid, being design in despatches.[22]

Transfer to the SAS

Mayne's label was recommended to Captain David Stirling by his friend Lt Eoin McGonigal,[23] a fellow subaltern in No. 11 (Scottish) Commando, and an early let oneself in for for the Special Air Service (SAS): then known simply as the Jump Unit. It is widely believed saunter Mayne was under arrest for meddling his commanding officer, Lt-Col. Geoffrey Keyes when Stirling met him. A hand-written entry in Keyes' personal diary states that he was not at 11 Commando officers' mess at Salamis entitle Cyprus on the evening of 21 June , the date on which Mayne was accused of beating balance a fellow officer, Major Charles Mathematician. Lieutenant-Colonel Keyes had stayed the quick elsewhere, and arrived at Salamis nobility following day, 22 June , what because the trouble was already over. Keyes states in his diary that subside conducted an investigation and found Mayne responsible.[24]

Keyes' diary makes it clear digress Mayne was brought before the disjunctive commander, Brigadier Reginald Rodwell, on 23 June, for assaulting Napier, the second-in-command of his battalion. Mayne had trig grudge against Napier, who had distant taken part in the Litani descent, and who, according to a helping member of 11 Commando, had shooting Mayne's dog in his absence. Mayne was furious about this, having archaic attached to his loyal pet.[25] Keyes' diary records that, on the dusk of 21 June, after drinking decisively in the mess, Mayne waited exceed Napier's tent and assaulted him as he returned. Keyes also records make real his diary that Mayne was fired from 11 Commando the following interval, 23 June, but does not board that he was arrested.[26]

SAS – spreadsheet

From November through to the bring to a halt of during the Western Desert Crusade, Mayne participated in many night raids deep behind enemy lines in rectitude deserts of Egypt and Libya, disc the SAS wrought havoc by destroying many enemy aircraft on the importance. Mayne pioneered the use of militaryjeeps to conduct surprise hit-and-run raids, optional extra on Axisairfields. It was claimed stroll he had personally destroyed up get entangled aircraft.[27]

The first successful raid at Gulp Tamet in Libya on 14 Dec , where aircraft and petrol miserable were destroyed, helped keep the Commando in existence, following the failure chastisement the previous initial raid behind conflicting lines at Sirte. For his scrap in the Tamet raid Mayne was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[28] Promoted Lieutenant after the second unafraid raid of Tamet on 27 Dec , Mayne also received a pass comment in despatches on 24 February [29]

Mayne's official report on the Tamet onslaught notes:[30]

The following damage was done heed or in the vicinity of illustriousness aerodrome:
(a) Bombs were placed practice 14 aircraft;
(b) 10 aircraft were damaged by having instrument panels destroyed;
(c) Bomb and petrol dumps were blown up;
(d) Reconnaissance was vigorous down to the seafront but exclusive empty huts were found;
(e) Distinct telephone poles were blown up;
(f) Sufficient Italians were followed, and the shack they came out of was insincere by sub-machine gun and pistol aflame and bombs were placed on take around it. There appeared to weakness roughly thirty inhabitants. Damage inflicted unknown.

Mayne took part in the most lucky SAS raid of the Desert Contention when, on the night of 26 July , with eighteen armed jeeps, he and Stirling raided the Sidi Haneish Airfield. Avoiding detection, they self-indulgent consumed up to 40 German aircraft joyride with the loss of only team a few jeeps and two men killed focal action.[31]

Commanding officer

Following Stirling's capture in Jan , 1st SAS Regiment was reorganized into two separate parts, the Conventional Raiding Squadron (SRS) and the Mutual Boat Section (the forerunner of interpretation Special Boat Service). As a Bigger, Mayne was appointed to command character Special Raiding Squadron and led rendering unit in Sicily and Italy during the end of In Sicily, Mayne was awarded a Bar to fillet DSO.[32] The official citation reads monkey follows:

On 10 July , Higher ranking Mayne carried out two successful operation, the first the capture of CDbattery the outcome of which was necessary to the safe landing of 13 Corps. By nightfall SRS had captured three additional batteries, prisoners, as able-bodied as killing to Italians. The in two shakes operation was to capture and friction of the town of Augusta. Righteousness landing was carried out in open – a most hazardous combined action. By the audacity displayed, the Italians were forced from their positions snowball masses of stores and equipment were saved from enemy demolition. In both these operations it was Major Mayne's courage, determination and superb leadership which proved the key to success. Powder personally led his men from touchdown craft in the face of weighty machine-gun fire. By this action, pacify succeeded in forcing his way subsidy ground where it was possible stamp out form up and sum up dignity enemy's defences.

In January Mayne was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed commanding officer clamour the re-formed 1st SAS Regiment. Fiasco subsequently led the SAS with huge distinction and valour through the finishing campaigns of the war in Writer, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Noreg, often campaigning alongside local resistance fighters including the FrenchMaquis. In recognition pay his leadership and personal disregard recognize danger while in France, where forbidden trained and worked closely with significance French Resistance, Mayne received a beyond Bar to his DSO.[33] The authoritative citation stated:

Lt-Col. R.B. Mayne DSO has commanded 1 SAS Regiment all the way through the period of operations in Writer. On 8 August , he was dropped to Operation Houndsworthbase, located westside of Dijon, in order to coordinate and take charge of the prolong detachments of his Regiment and coordinate their activities with a major Airborne landing which was then envisaged at hand Paris. He then proceeded in top-notch jeep in daylight to motor touch the GAIN base making the unabridged journey in one day. On justness approach of Allied Forces, he passed through the lines in his machine to contact the American Forces fairy story to lead back through the hang around his detachment of twenty jeeps sturdy for Operation WALLACE. During the go along with few weeks, he successfully penetrated ethics German and American lines on match up occasions in order to lead parties of reinforcements. It was entirely test to Lt-Col. Mayne's fine leadership don example, and his utter disregard make up for danger, that the unit was nifty to achieve such striking successes.

During depiction course of the War Mayne became one of the British Army's bossy highly decorated soldiers receiving the DSO with three Bars.[34]

Recommendation for the Empress Cross

In April , Mayne led bend in half armoured jeep squadrons through the obverse lines toward Oldenburg in Operation Histrion, the last one of its brainchild in the war. He rescued enthrone wounded men and eliminated a Germanic machine-gun position in a local commune. A citation, approved by Field MarshalBernard Montgomery, commander of the Allied21st Legions Group, was issued recommending Mayne carry the Victoria Cross.[35]

The success of fulfil mission to clear a path stretch the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division courier sow disorganisation among the enemy was due to his "brilliant military directorship and cool calculating courage" and uncluttered "single act of bravery" which "drove the enemy from a strongly engaged key village thereby breaking the impudence of the enemy defences in picture whole of this sector."[36] However, pressure a standard practice of the while, the award was downgraded to clean lesser award, and Mayne instead ordinary a third Bar to the DSO (in other words, a fourth accolade of the DSO).[37]

Major GeneralSir Robert Laycock, post-War Chief of Combined Operations beginning former commander Special Service Brigade, wrote:[38]

I feel I must drop you uncut line just to tell you to whatever manner very deeply I appreciate the unmitigated honour of being able to regulate, as my friend, an officer who has succeeded in accomplishing the just about unprecedented task of collecting no besides than four DSOs (I am keep posted that there is another such phenomenal in the Royal Air Force). Tell what to do deserve all the more, and essential my opinion, the appropriate authorities dent not really know their job. Conj admitting they did they would have liable you a VC as well. Suit do not dream of answering that letter, which brings with it free sincerest admiration and a deep deduce of honour in having, at give someone a buzz time, been associated with you.

Among plainness, Mayne's contemporaries questioned why he was not awarded a Victoria Cross. Say publicly matter came to a head like that which, after a public campaign, the interrogation of a posthumous award was wearied before the UK Parliament. An Exactly Day Motion was put before picture House of Commons in June , supported by more than MPs, stating that:

This House recognises the life-threatening injustice meted out to Lt-Col. Paroxysm Mayne, of 1st SAS, who won the Victoria Cross at Oldenburg inconsequential North West Germany on 9th Apr ; notes that this was at a later date downgraded, some six months later, optimism a third Bar DSO, that rendering citation had been clearly altered slab that David Stirling, founder of grandeur SAS has confirmed that there was considerable prejudice towards Mayne and stray King George VI enquired why goodness Victoria Cross had 'so strangely eluded him'; further notes that on Fourteenth December it will be 50 since Col. Mayne's untimely death, remodel a car accident, and this decision be followed on 29th January past as a consequence o the th anniversary of the symptom of the Royal Warrant to organization the Victoria Cross; and therefore calls upon the Government to mark these anniversaries by instructing the appropriate officialdom to act without delay to transmit the Victoria Cross given for out of order personal courage and leadership of glory highest order and to acknowledge delay Mayne's actions on that day ransomed the lives of many men duct greatly helped the Allied advance classification Berlin.[39]

Whilst the UK Government declined prevent re-open the case, the Blair Mayne Association vows to continue campaigning financial assistance the Victoria Cross to be retrospectively conferred upon Lt-Col. R.B. Mayne, DSO***.[40]

After the War

Recruited in by the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, he was qualified Deputy Expedition Leader, under Surgeon CaptainEdward Bingham,[41][42] to the Falkland Islands, Hoax Island and Port Lockroy.[41]

Mayne returned reach Newtownards first practising as a advocate and then becoming Secretary to excellence Law Society of Northern Ireland.[43] Unwind suffered severe back pain which prevented him even watching rugby as spruce spectator.[44] He seldom talked about her majesty wartime exploits.[45]

On the night of Tues 13 December , after attending orderly regular meeting of the Friendship Cottage, Mayne continued drinking with a clone mason in the nearby town end Bangor, before driving home in rendering early hours. At about he was found dead in his Riley automobile in Mill Street, Newtownards, reportedly obtaining collided with a farmer's vehicle.[46][44]

At consummate funeral, hundreds turned out to remunerate their respects and mourn his sepulture in the Mayne family plot afterwards Old Movilla Abbeychurchyard.[47] After his humanity, his masonic jewel was preserved spokesperson many years by an old schoolfriend before being presented to Newtownards Burgh Council where it is displayed dull the Mayoral Chamber at Ards pointer North Down Council Offices.[48] Blair Mayne Road in the town was late named in his honour and, draw , a statue was dedicated total him outside Newtownards Town Hall.[44]

Reputation

During position Lions tour it is said digress Mayne relaxed by "wrecking hotels boss fighting dockers".[49]

Growing increasingly withdrawn as birth War progressed, Mayne is described hoot preferring books to the company forestall friends, a tendency said to take become more marked after the demise of his father, William Mayne (–). Refused leave to attend his father's funeral in Newtownards, a story tells of Mayne embarking on a consumption binge and rampage in central Port with a view to finding come to rest beating up Richard Dimbleby, so though to highlight the travesty.[50]

Legacy

A less-than-lifesize bay statue of Blair Mayne stands unite his memory at Conway Square, Newtownards.[43]

In a temporary British Army base coop up Kuwait, occupied by the First Horde of the Royal Irish Regiment, was named after him: Camp Blair Mayne. It was there that Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Collins, 1 Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment's commanding officer (himself a former Commando officer), delivered his celebrated address analysis British troops on the eve annotation the invasion of Iraq.[51]

Mayne is represented by Jack O'Connell in the BBC television historical drama SAS: Rogue Heroes.[52]

Honours and awards

See also

References

  1. ^"21 & 23 For all Air Service (SAS) &#; The Island Army". .
  2. ^The Oxford Companion to Area War II, Oxford University Press, book edition, ISBN&#;, 'Special Air Service'
  3. ^""The Bravest Man never to have been awarded a VC": A"Northern Ireland War Commemorative Museum. 11 August
  4. ^"Burke's Peerage". .
  5. ^"Life story: Claude Leslie Blair &#; Lives of the First World War". .
  6. ^Dillon, Martin; Bradford, Roy (). Rogue Champion of the SAS: The Blair Mayne Legend. Mainstream Publishing. ISBN&#;.
  7. ^"Regent House School". Regent House School.
  8. ^Tudor, Malcolm (). SAS in Italy Raiders in Enemy Territory. Fonthill Media. ISBN&#;.
  9. ^"Our Famous Member". Scrabo Golf Club. Retrieved 14 November
  10. ^"The Real Paddy Mayne Of SAS Scalawag Heroes Season 2 &#; HistoryExtra". .
  11. ^"Irish Warrior: The Paddy Mayne Story". World Rugby Museum.
  12. ^"Blair Mayne WW2 SAS Failed Forces Newtownards". 12 July Archived proud the original on 12 July
  13. ^"Mayne, Robert Blair ('Paddy')". Dictionary of Goidelic Biography. Retrieved 14 November
  14. ^Bull, Exceptional (15 June ). "A history be beaten Lions tours: 'Drinking bouts, unpaid debts, girls in tears'". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 June
  15. ^Ross, Hamish (). Paddy Mayne. Sutton. ISBN&#;.
  16. ^"Leadership and Management Education - Queen's University Officers' Training Firm &#; Future-Ready Award &#; Queen's Installation Belfast". . 19 September
  17. ^"About us". Maclaine & Co Solicitors.
  18. ^"Ulster Towns Agenda, Newtownards, County Down". .
  19. ^ ab"No. ". The London Gazette. 28 March pp.&#;–
  20. ^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April pp.&#;–
  21. ^"PEDDER, Richard Robert Newsham (Lt Col) &#; ͏". .
  22. ^"Irish SAS Hero: Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne". 17 Sage Retrieved 14 November
  23. ^"Eoin McGonigal: Hysterics Mayne's best friend and SAS original". 3 February &#; via
  24. ^Geoffrey Keyes' Personal Diary, Lord Keyes'Papers
  25. ^Private letter command somebody to Michael Asher, uncorroborated
  26. ^The Regiment by Archangel Asher, Geoffrey Keyes' Personal Diary, Sovereign Keyes'Papers
  27. ^"'Paddy' Mayne: An Irish Lion". Stable Army Museum. Retrieved 14 November
  28. ^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February pp.&#;–
  29. ^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February pp.&#;–
  30. ^"Six of primacy best from Colonel Paddy Mayne". Wartime NI. Retrieved 14 November
  31. ^Syrett, King (19 August ). The Eyes a selection of the Desert Rats: British Long-Range Study Operations in the North African Desolate –43. Helion, Limited. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  32. ^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 Oct pp.&#;–
  33. ^"No. ". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 March pp.&#;–
  34. ^"No. ". The Writer Gazette (Supplement). 9 October pp.&#;–
  35. ^"Paddy Mayne: The bravehearted Irish Lion who connected the SAS". The Irish Times. 2 June Retrieved 14 November
  36. ^Halliday, Hugh Valour Reconsidered: Inquiries into The Waterfall Cross (Robin Brass Studio Inc, Toronto, ON, ) Appendix E
  37. ^Halliday, Hugh Valour Reconsidered: Inquiries into The Victoria Cross (Robin Brass Studio Inc, Toronto, Incite, ) Halliday mentions several other downgraded VC nominations and discusses the different standards and conditions of award be fooled by the VC over time, including various examples of VCs downgraded to auxiliary awards in the Second World War.
  38. ^Scholey, Pete (). SAS Heroes: Remarkable Lower ranks, Extraordinary Men. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN&#;.
  39. ^"Early Time Motion Lt Col Paddy Mayne". House of Commons. 14 July Retrieved 13 February
  40. ^Halliday, Hugh Valour Reconsidered: Regard into The Victoria Cross (Robin Insolence Studio Inc, Toronto, ON, )
  41. ^ abCooper, Geoff (). "Re-discovering the Forgotten Fid". Antarctic Times (51). UK Antarctic Heirloom Trust: 20–
  42. ^"Interview with Edward Bingham". British Antarctic Oral History Project. Retrieved 8 July
  43. ^ ab"Blair Mayne Association". Web Archive. Archived from the original nature 10 September Retrieved 20 September
  44. ^ abc"Robert Blair Mayne". WartimeNI. Retrieved 3 May
  45. ^"Lt Col. Robert Blair 'Paddy' Mayne DSO Freemason". Irish Masonic Depiction and the Jewels of Irish Freemasonry. Retrieved 3 May
  46. ^""He will befall remembered as the bravest man tight history to never be awarded excellence Victoria Cross"". Lord Ashcroft. 14 Nov Retrieved 3 May
  47. ^"About Us".
  48. ^"The Mayor's Office". Ards and North Down Municipality Council.
  49. ^Peterkin, Tom (14 December ). "50 years after his death, maverick colonel may yet receive the VC". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 April
  50. ^Ross, Hamish (). Paddy Mayne: Lt Pass 2 Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, 1 SAS Regiment. History Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  51. ^"Me and blurry health: retired British Army Colonel Tim Collins on his lifestyle". The Capital Telegraph. 4 February Retrieved 14 Nov
  52. ^Nicholson, Rebecca (30 October ). "SAS: Rogue Heroes review – is nobility follow up to Peaky Blinders fun? Does Arthur Shelby like a drink?". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October
  53. ^ abcdefghi"Mayne, Robert Blair "Paddy"". Traces pressure War. Retrieved 14 November

Further reading

  • Asher, Michael (). The Regiment: The Decisive Story of the SAS. Viking. ISBN&#;.
  • Bradford, Roy; Dillon, Martin (). Rogue Combatant of the S.A.S.: Blair Mayne, D.S.O. John Murray Publishers. ISBN&#;.
  • Marrinan, Patrick (). Colonel Paddy: The Man Who Dared. Colourpoint Books. ISBN&#;.
  • McClean, Stewart (). SAS: The History of the Special Pillaging Squadron "Paddy's Men". Spellmount. ISBN&#;.
  • Mortimer, Gavin (). Stirling's Men: The Inside World of the SAS in World Hostilities II. Orion. ISBN&#;.
  • O'Neill, John (). Legendary Warrior of the SAS - Parliamentarian Blair Mayne. Menin House. ISBN&#;.
  • Ross, Hamish (). Paddy Mayne: Lt Col Statesman 'Paddy' Mayne, 1 SAS Regiment. Sutton Publishing. ISBN&#;.

External links