1939 - 1945
After initially starting his military life with the OTC at Queens University in Belfast, he joined his local unit in Newtownards, The 5th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery SR (Supplementary Reserve) But Blair Mayne was looking for action and soon transferred to various other units, The Royal Ulster Rifles and The Cameronians before seeing his first action with The 11th (Scottish) Commando. This was at the Litani river in Syria as part of Layforce where he was mentioned in dispatches for his actions. David Stirling next recruited him and he became one of the founder members of The Special Air Service. This small unit went from strength to strength and Blair Mayne played a very large part in it's success being personally credited with the destruction of over 100 German and Italian aeroplanes.
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Pictured in the gardens of his home in Newtownards. Photograph taken by R.S.M.Bob Bennett |
Sometimes Mayne and his men would carry out up to 16 raids per week.Shortly after David Stirling was betrayed by the Arabs and captured by The Germans Major Mayne assumed command of the 1st SAS which was then to be known as The Special Raiding Squadron. Under his sole leadership they fought some very hard and dangerous battles on the island of Sicily and also mainland Italy, Capo Murro Di Porco, Syracuse, Augusta, Bagnara and Termoli. Paddy Mayne, as always, led his men from the front and was constantly found in the very thick of the fighting. These actions saw the loss of many brave men and their deaths caused Mayne great pain and sadness. With their tasks completed the SAS was recalled to the UK and a new base in Darvel, Ayrshire. In preparation for even harder operations it was greatly expanded with the addition of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Regiments The continent of Europe was to see their next actions, where they battled hard and lost many men leading the way through France, Holland, Belgium, Germany and finally into Norway.
The many operations undertaken
in France were again of a totally different nature as they had to train and
work with the Maquis as well as carry out their own tasks of gathering intelligence,
sabotage and destruction. Many strong bonds were formed with the Maquisards,
especially the Maquis Bernard in the Morvan region. The men of the 1st SAS Regiment
are still very fondly remembered there and are always welcomed with great affection.
As the 1st SAS Regiment led The Canadian 4th Armoured Division and fought it's
way into the German heartland the fighting became very savage, but as always
Blair Mayne was in the vanguard and leading his men by example. Even today many
people still feel very strongly that he should have been awarded the highest
honour of the Victoria Cross. Sadly many of his brave soldiers paid the supreme
sacrifice during the European campaigns and not always in battle. The Germans
cruelly tortured and brutally executed many of the men they captured due to
Hitler's infamous Commando Order. The soldiers of the Regiment were only too
aware of this fact but it did not deter them from doing their duty and completing
their tasks.
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The mainstay for most British troops the .303 Bren gun  |
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The .45 Thompson sub machine gun  |
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The words of the Regimental song written on the backing of a book. This was in the handwriting of Robert Blair Mayne |
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Distinguished Service Order Citations
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