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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER & 3 Bars List of Gallantry / Campaign Medals & Awards D.S.O. ... Middle East .... 20/2/42
Rank Lieutenant 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 |
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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 achievement. Only seven other men were to be awarded three bars to the D.S.O. The French people and their Government knew his worth and 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 on since the ending of World War Two a very large number of men and women, including 100 Members of Parliment, from all sides of the house, still feel very strongly that despite all of his hard fought battles, undoubted bravery, outstanding leadership and incredible war time achievements he was wrongly, and indeed shamefully, treated by the military and political establishment of the day. Although, in fact, it is highly possible that he had already earned his country's highest bravery award on many previous occasions. These people are of the firm belief that Lt. Col. Robert Blair Mayne should not have had his citation downgraded but instead he should been granted the award that he was originally cited for after his heroic and selfless deeds during the action near 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 ?
If you feel that the downgrading of the original citation was a travisty of justice then please contact your own MP, MLA or MSP. The Times, The Daily Mirror and The Belfast Telegraph newspapers have all recently carried articles regarding the failure of the military to stand by the original citation and the growing campaign to have the decision overturned. The MP for Strangford, Mr James Shannon, has once again highlighted the campaign by asking a question in The House of Commons. Mike Nesbitt MLA. has also joined the call for the VC. |
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Not just one day a year
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