Three former Defense Secretaries have called for a posthumous Victoria Cross award for legendary SAS commander Paddy Mayne, criticized by the BBC for being portrayed as a “drunken Irishman” in the series “SAS Rogue Heroes.” Mayne, who led the SAS during WWII and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal four times, was controversially denied the VC despite extraordinary bravery, including saving a comrade in a Nazi ambush. Former officials are now pushing for a reconsideration of his case, citing a precedent established by other posthumous awards. Family and military experts advocate for rectifying this perceived injustice, emphasizing Mayne’s undeniable heroism.
Three former Defense Secretaries last night called for legendary SAS commander Paddy Mayne to be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross. The BBC came under fire for portraying him as a “drunken Irishman”.
The second series of SAS Rogue Heroes details the exploits of Lieutenant Colonel Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne, who led the Special Assault Squadron, renamed the SAS Force, in the bloody invasions of Sicily and Italy in 1943.
Military experts say Mayne, the founder of the SAS, is perhaps Britain’s greatest front-line soldier. During World War II, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal four times for a series of extraordinary acts of bravery.
However, despite saving the life of a comrade who was captured in a Nazi ambush in Germany in 1945, he was refused the Victoria Cross after an unknown Whitehall official withdrew his recommendation for the medal. .
Last year, a plaque mysteriously appeared at the foot of the main statue in his hometown of Newtownards, Northern Ireland, which read: “When will this man be awarded the Victoria Cross?”
No British SAS member has ever won a VC. For decades, the government had refused to review decisions on the main medals, saying they would not award them retrospectively.
Almost 80 years after the battle that led to his nomination as VC, the Mail on Sunday has revealed that hopes are growing that Mr Mayne could win the award posthumously. There is.
Historian and SAS expert Damian Lewis revealed in November that Private Richard Norden, an Australian soldier who rescued a wounded soldier under enemy fire in Vietnam in 1968, received a posthumous VC. I believe this has set a precedent.
Lieutenant Colonel Blair ‘Paddy’ Mayne was described by military experts as perhaps the greatest frontline soldier in British history.
The main statue in Conway Square, Newtownards, Northern Ireland. Expectations are growing that the lieutenant may receive the Victoria Cross posthumously.
Norden died in a car accident in 1972. Similarly, Mayne survived the war but died in an accident in 1955.
“This sets a precedent,” Lewis said. “The heroic acts are very similar. All efforts so far have been to get the original case reconsidered, but posthumous venture capital… might give the Department of Defense an excuse to say yes.” do not have.
“They’ve always said no because they don’t re-examine historic cases. This will be evaluating new cases.”
Last night, calls for Mr Mayne to be awarded the VC received the backing of three former defense secretaries, the Conservatives’ Ben Wallace and Grant Shapps, and Labour’s John Hutton.
Mr Shapps said Mayne’s “extraordinary bravery” during the war was “indisputable”, adding: “Even at the time it was considered strange for Mayne’s nomination to be VC to be refused, and even the King He is also reported to have conveyed the same.” Now that I have served as Secretary of Defense, I feel even more strongly that this injustice must be corrected. ”
Sir Benn said: “In these awakening days, governments appear ready to rewrite history if it suits them.” They should do something that actually corrects a real wrong. Paddy Mayne deserves proper recognition. ”
Lord Hutton added: “I cannot understand why this problem has not been resolved. I am happy to support the campaign to get this right.”
Newtownards Democratic Unionist MP Jim Shannon has vowed to table a parliamentary motion in Westminster to put further pressure on the government.
Jack O’Connell plays Paddy Mayne in the second BBC series of SAS Rogue Heroes
The plaque that called for Maine to receive the Victoria Cross on the spot on Remembrance Sunday last year has now been removed.
But historian Lord Ashcroft warned it would be “unrealistic” to review the award decades later, saying Mr Mayne may be “destined to be the bravest man” never to win the VC. He added that he could not.
The campaign comes amid criticism that SAS Rogue Heroes, written by Peaky Blinders author Stephen Knight, has tarnished its reputation by portraying Maine as a hot-tempered thug. It is expanding.
The opening episode of the six-part series shows a drunken Mane, played by Jack O’Connell, beating up a squad of military police. The second episode shows him desecrating a church by hanging a machine gun on a statue of Christ.
BBC officials said the program, based on a book by journalist Ben McIntyre, told the story of Mayne’s immense courage.
But his niece Fiona Ferguson said it was “disrespectful” to portray her uncle as a “drunken Irishman”, adding: “Speaking to the ‘originals’ as I did. “When,” he added. In North Africa) everyone respected him, followed him, and doted on him.
Mayne was appointed VC in April 1945 for his role in breaking through a Nazi ambush near Rolp in Lower Saxony. His appointment was approved by Marshal Montgomery, commander-in-chief of British forces in Germany, but he was later demoted in Whitehall.
A letter outlining the decision argued that Mayne’s bravery was not an “isolated act of heroism” because he was accompanied by another soldier.
Experts say nowhere in the warrant against the VC does it stipulate that it must do so. All it stipulates is a “brave signal act”. King George VI asked Winston Churchill to intervene, but it was too late.
