Irish rugby union player, lawyer, boxer, and soldier
Robert Blair Mayne
Paddy Mayne near Kabrit, Egypt, in 1942
Nickname(s)
Paddy The Irish Lion
Born
(1915-01-11)11 January 1915 Newtownards, County Down, Ireland
Died
14 December 1955(1955-12-14) (aged 40) Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland
Allegiance
United Kingdom
Service/branch
British Army
Years of service
1939–1945
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Commands held
1st Special Air Service Regiment
Battles/wars
Second World War
North African campaign
Battle of the Litani River
Sicily Campaign
Operation Overlord
Operation Houndsworth
Operation Wallace
Operation Howard
Awards
Distinguished Service Order & Three Bars
Mentioned in Despatches
Legion of Honour (France)
Croix de guerre (France)
Alma mater
Queen's University Belfast Regent House Grammar School
Other work
Secretary to the Law Society of Northern Ireland, lawyer, boxer
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne, DSO & Three Bars (11 January 1915 – 14 December 1955), better known as Paddy Mayne, was a British Army officer from Newtownards, capped for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions at rugby union, lawyer, amateur boxer, and a founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS).
During the course of the Second World War, Mayne became one of the British Army's most highly decorated soldiers.[1] He was controversially denied a Victoria Cross.
^The Oxford Companion to World War II, Oxford University Press, 2001 paperback edition, ISBN 0198604467, 'Special Air Service'
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair Mayne, DSO & Three Bars (11 January 1915 – 14 December 1955), better known as PaddyMayne, was a British Army officer from...
forces operation by B and C Squadrons, 1st Special Air Service led by PaddyMayne that took place from 6 to 29 April 1945. It was to provide reconnaissance...
Prince William and Prince Harry Simon Mann – Mercenary, Equatorial Guinea PaddyMayne, DSO – British and Irish Lions Rugby Union player Fitzroy Maclean John...
After Stirling's capture, the SAS was led by PaddyMayne until the end of the Second World War. When Mayne was recruited to the Falkland Islands Dependencies...
Indian Army officer PaddyMayne (1915–1955), Northern Irish soldier and athlete Patrick Mayne, Australian butcher and alderman Richard Mayne (1796–1868), first...
First World War Royal Marines officer, also awarded the Victoria Cross PaddyMayne, Special Air Service commander in the Second World War and Irish rugby...
and maneuvered to escape after a last sweep for undamaged aircraft. PaddyMayne placed a bomb in the engine of a parked bomber before withdrawing. The...
(SBO) which was in place in the area. Following Stirling's capture, PaddyMayne took command of the SAS. In North Africa, in the 15 months before Stirling's...
Children's Book (2009). The second stanza of "The Wayfarers" is quoted by PaddyMayne in voiceover in the second episode of SAS: Rogue Heroes (2022) as the...
Ireland, Irish and British open lawn bowls singles champion Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne, SAS co-founder, was born and lived in Newtownards and attended Regent...
Tunisia and PaddyMayne replaced him as commander. In April 1943, the 1st SAS was reorganised into the Special Raiding Squadron under Mayne's command and...
were supported by B and C squadrons SAS with Operation Howard led by PaddyMayne, who were acting as reconnaissance. The division advanced a further 25 km...
starred Julia Stiles. He was executive producer of a film produced about PaddyMayne. In late 2006 he launched a new television programme on the Sky One channel...
River near Marjayoun Belligerents Australia United Kingdom Vichy France French Lebanon Commanders and leaders John Lavarack Geoffrey Keyes PaddyMayne...
PaddyMayne from County Down; a founding member of the SAS; was one of the most decorated British soldiers of World War II. He also played rugby for Ireland...
former British politician and chairman of the Football League in England PaddyMayne – soldier and explorer Mary McAleese – President of Ireland Willie John...
commander 1st SAS by PaddyMayne. In April 1943, the 1st SAS was reorganised into the Special Raiding Squadron under the command of Mayne and the Special Boat...
1910 Robert Alexander: 1938 George Cromey: 1938 Harry McKibbin: 1938 PaddyMayne: 1938 Jack Kyle: 1950 Jimmy Nelson: 1950 Robin Thompson: 1955 Cecil Pedlow:...
Louis Lipsett Lieutenant General Henry Lyster VC General Sir Bryan Mahon PaddyMayne George McElroy Lieutenant General Sir Charles MacMorrough Kavanagh Field...
Tufts University, awarded for his courage and bravery. Lt.Colonel Blair "Paddy" Mayne, British Special Air Service, Croix de Guerre with Palm. Awarded Légion...
Some of the more recent burials include that of Colonel Robert Blair PaddyMayne, one of the most highly decorated British soldiers in World War II; and...
international Maxine Mawhinney, BBC newsreader Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne DSO & 3 Bars, founding member of the Special Air Service, former British...
Stirling's Men in 2004, which covered rugby international and SAS commander PaddyMayne, as well as other members of SAS 'Originals'. Mars & Minerva, the SAS...