Mayne was born in January, 1915, one of four boys in a family of seven children.The outbreak of the Second World War cut short his sports career. Blair "Paddy" Mayne, a member of the Territorial Army who had attended the officer training corps at Queen's, was to prove a natural fighter if sometimes indisciplined soldier.After passing through a number of units, including the Royal Ulster Rifles and Cameronians, he saw action with the 11th (Scottish) Commando which led on to him being selected by David Stirling as one of the founding members, and the second-in-command, of what was destined to become
the Special Air Service.
Mayne proved himself to be a master of irregular warfare. Personally fearless and leading from the front, he took part in countless missions behind enemy lines in the desert,attacking enemy airfields - destroying more than 100 aircraft on the ground - storage dumps and depots.He was similarly effective in Sicily, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Norway and Germany, commanding the 1st SAS regiment after the capture of Stirling.Mayne was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his daring to which he added a further three bars and a Croix de Guerre and Legion d'Honneur. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
He was also recommended for the Victoria Cross for an action in Germany
in April, 1945.Mayne's unit, trail-blazing the route for the 4th Canadian
Armoured Division - led by the Armagh-born Major-Gen
Christopher Vokes - was being held up by enemy positions in a farm
building and nearby wood.After ensuring another house was clear,
Mayne, armed with a Bren gun he fired from the shoulder, took up a
position in the open and poured fire on the German stronghold, killing
or wounding everyone inside.Enlisting the help of another volunteer
to fire a machine-gun from the rear of a jeep, Mayne drove it past
the wood three times in full view of the enemy - which withdrew
shortly afterwards - to gather some of his wounded men.
Today, a statue stands in the centre of his home town.
the Special Air Service.
Mayne proved himself to be a master of irregular warfare. Personally fearless and leading from the front, he took part in countless missions behind enemy lines in the desert,attacking enemy airfields - destroying more than 100 aircraft on the ground - storage dumps and depots.He was similarly effective in Sicily, Italy, France, Holland, Belgium, Norway and Germany, commanding the 1st SAS regiment after the capture of Stirling.Mayne was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his daring to which he added a further three bars and a Croix de Guerre and Legion d'Honneur. He eventually rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
He was also recommended for the Victoria Cross for an action in Germany
in April, 1945.Mayne's unit, trail-blazing the route for the 4th Canadian
Armoured Division - led by the Armagh-born Major-Gen
Christopher Vokes - was being held up by enemy positions in a farm
building and nearby wood.After ensuring another house was clear,
Mayne, armed with a Bren gun he fired from the shoulder, took up a
position in the open and poured fire on the German stronghold, killing
or wounding everyone inside.Enlisting the help of another volunteer
to fire a machine-gun from the rear of a jeep, Mayne drove it past
the wood three times in full view of the enemy - which withdrew
shortly afterwards - to gather some of his wounded men.
Today, a statue stands in the centre of his home town.
L.O.L 1952 Lodge Bannerette depicts Newtownards famous son
Lt Col Robert Blair Mayne
DSO & 3 Bars
Lt Col Robert Blair Mayne
DSO & 3 Bars
A Murial depicting Mayne's exploits in North Africa painted proudly on a gable end Queen Street newtownards
(click on the image to enlarge)
(click on the image to enlarge)
When it comes to warriors, few stand out more as a breed apart than Robert Blair Mayne. A man of both physical and historical stature, he arguably should be the holder of a Victoria Cross and ended the war as one of the most decorated British soldiers.