DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER & 3 Bars                             List of Gallantry / Campaign Medals & Awards D.S.O. ...  Middle East .... 20/2/42  Rank   Lieutenant 1st Bar -   Sicily .... 21/10/43   Rank   Captain / Temp Major 2nd Bar -  Normandy .... 29/3/45   Rank   Major / Temp Lt. Colonel 3rd Bar -   North West Europe .... 11/10/45   Rank  Lt Colonel 1939 - 45 Star. Africa Star with 8th Army Bar Italy Star France & Germany Star Defence Medal War Medal with MID Oak Leaf Mentioned in Dispatches Operation Exporter June/July 1941, Litani River 11 (Scottish Commando) Legion D'Honneur Croix De Guerre with Palm

                The Blair Mayne Association

Each one of his four citations reached the same conclusions when they described Mayne's qualities of superb, fine and brilliant leadership. They also mentioned his outstanding gallantry and great courage. The D.S.O. ranks just slightly lower in stature than the Victoria Cross and to gain that prestigious award while holding the junior rank of Lieutenant made it an even more significant acheivment. Only seven other men were to be awarded three bars to the D.S.O. The French people and their Government held Blair Mayne in very high esteem for his gallant and fearless conduct in helping to free their country from the Germans. They honoured him with the award of The Legion D'Honneur & Croix De Guerre on 5th March 1946 for his services.  Those two great honours made him one of the most highly decorated Allied soldiers at the end of World War 2.

More than sixty years after the ending of WW2 many people, including 100 Members of Parliment from all sides of the house, still feel very strongly that despite all of his hard won battles and incredible war time achievments he was wrongly, and shamefully treated by the establishment. They firmly believe that he should have been granted the award that he was originally cited for after his heroic deeds at Oldenburg,

                                      The Victoria Cross.

Brig. Mike Calvert - Commander SAS Troops
Maj.Gen C. Vokes - GOC 4th Canadian Armoured Division

Lt.Gen G. Simonds - Commander 2nd Canadian Corp

Surely these three senior officers were not wrong to sign the citation ?

Pictured below is the top right hand part of the citation

clearly showing the letters VC crossed out.

If you have any comments regarding the content of this website or have any information

or memories regarding Blair Mayne please contact us via e-mail.    

Please do not use any material from this website for financial gain

Please remember to credit any material used to the author or to this website

  Edited 16/06/09