50 years after his death, maverick colonel may yet receive the VC
By Tom Peterkin, Ireland Correspondent
(Filed: 14/12/2005)
As a founding member of the SAS, Lt Col Blair "Paddy" Mayne was one of the most decorated heroes of the Second World War, winning four Distinguished Service Orders, the Legion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre.
Fifty years after his death, a campaign for a posthumous Victoria Cross is gathering momentum amid claims that he was unjustly denied the ultimate gallantry award.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Col Mayne's death, at the age of 40. He died in his sports car near his home in Newtownards, Co Down, 10-years after showing "unsurpassed heroism" while taking out German snipers.
His actions on April 9 1945, at Oldenburg, north-west Germany, earned him a recommendation for the VC, which was turned down in controversial circumstances.
More than 100 MPs support early day motions claiming a "grave injustice" when his VC recommendation was downgraded to a third-bar DSO.
The VC citation describes how Col Mayne was ordered to lead the 4th Canadian Armoured Division through enemy lines.
His "brilliant leadership and cool calculating courage" and "a single act of supreme bravery" drove the Germans from a strongly held village.
Under fire and in full view of the Germans, he seized a Bren gun and burst into several houses, killing and wounding enemy soldiers. He then jumped into a jeep and cleared a path by shooting from the hip at the enemy.
Col Mayne rescued Allied wounded in the face of intense machinegun fire.
"His cool and determined action and his complete command of the situation, together with his unsurpassed gallantry, inspired all ranks," said his citation.
Yesterday Ian Gibson, the Norwich North Labour MP who tabled one of the early day motions, said: "We have had no satisfactory answers why he cannot be awarded the VC. It is small-mindedness."
At the time, it was reported that George VI inquired why the VC had "so strangely eluded him".
Maj Gen Sir Robert Laycock, the post-war Chief of Combined Operators, wrote to Col Mayne saying "the appropriate authorities do not really know their job. If they did they would have given you a VC as well".
Sir David Stirling, founding father of the SAS, who chose Col Mayne as one of his first recruits, called the decision "a monstrous injustice".
A possible explanation was disapproval of his rebellious streak. When he drank, he was wild.
This was first noted when as an Irish rugby international he toured South Africa with the British Lions in 1938. When not playing in all three Tests, he relaxed by wrecking hotels and fighting dockers.
The Blair Mayne Association has recently unearthed a 1945 document from the Canadian national archive suggesting that he was denied a VC because it was "not a single-handed act of heroism". Another soldier was said to have given covering fire.
Don Touhig, the veterans' minister, said it would be wrong to reverse commanders' decisions of 60 years ago. It is hoped that next month's 150th anniversary of Queen Victoria instituting the VC could bring a change of heart.
tpeterkin@telegraph.co.uk
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Should He Have Got The VC
This was first noted when as an Irish rugby international he toured South Africa with the British Lions in 1938. When not playing in all three Tests, he relaxed by wrecking hotels and fighting dockers.
Sounds like the kind of guy who would win a VC, with the kind of backing from the big shots including the King, looks like the old establishment got their way
Sounds like the kind of guy who would win a VC, with the kind of backing from the big shots including the King, looks like the old establishment got their way
You were only supposed to blow the Bloody Doors Off....
'his rebellious streak'-----'not a single act of heroism', as another soldier was said to have given covering fire.!!!!!!!!
Anyone who would care to read the reports on other acts of heroism from those who earned the Victoria Cross will understand that the above comments are a very poor excuse for not awarding Lt Col Mayne the medal that he so deserves.
Could it have also been that as a founder member of the SAS, when such so called 'private armies' were not appreciated perhaps by senior members of the army, this was held against him?
How fitting it would be for Lt Col Mayne to be awarded the Victoria Cross as also a founder member of the SAS and as the first to a member of
the Special Air Service to receive such an award.
Saward
Anyone who would care to read the reports on other acts of heroism from those who earned the Victoria Cross will understand that the above comments are a very poor excuse for not awarding Lt Col Mayne the medal that he so deserves.
Could it have also been that as a founder member of the SAS, when such so called 'private armies' were not appreciated perhaps by senior members of the army, this was held against him?
How fitting it would be for Lt Col Mayne to be awarded the Victoria Cross as also a founder member of the SAS and as the first to a member of
the Special Air Service to receive such an award.
Saward
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The man was one of the bravest f@#k to have served. Did he deserve it yes of course he bloody well did. Did as much if not more than other winners. Course he was a bloody crazy f@#k was Paddy, great soldier. Dont think he would have given a toss about it either. Dont think he was a shiny medal type of soldier
I've been in discussion with others about this and I reckon it's Newtownards council who are behind this, for tourism reasons. There's no way he will be awarded a VC in restrospect.
Of course he may well have deserved it. I don't think a finer soldier has ever lived, even if he was a mad bugger on and off duty.
Of course he may well have deserved it. I don't think a finer soldier has ever lived, even if he was a mad bugger on and off duty.
Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam!
