Paddy Mayne
| Robert Blair Mayne | |
|---|---|
Paddy Mayne near Kabrit, Egypt, in 1942
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Paddy |
| Born |
11 January 1915 Newtownards, County Down, Ireland |
| Died | 14 December 1955 (aged 40) Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom
|
| Service/branch |
 British Army
|
| Years of service | 1939–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands held | Special Air Service |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Distinguished Service Order & Three Bars Mentioned in Despatches Légion d'honneur (France) Croix de guerre (France) |
| Other work |
Solicitor Secretary to the Law Society of Northern Ireland |
Lieutenant Colonel Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne DSO & Three Bars (11 January 1915 – 14 December 1955) was a Northern Irish solicitor, British Army soldier, Ireland rugby union international, amateur boxer and a founding member of the Special Air Service (SAS). During the course of the Second World War he became one of the British Army's most highly decorated soldiers. He was controversially denied a Victoria Cross.
Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne was born in Newtownards, County Down, the sixth of seven children in a Protestant family. The Maynes were prominent landowners who owned several retail businesses in the town. He was named Robert Blair after a second cousin, who at the time of his birth was a British Army officer serving in the First World War. The family home, Mount Pleasant, is situated on the hills above Newtownards. A paternal ancestor was Gordon Turnbull, who led the famous Scotland Forever Charge at Waterloo. While growing up, his best friend was Sam Crockard, who lived in a farm just up the road at the foot of Scrabo Tower and ran up the hill each day to deliver milk to the women who lived there. Sam also shared Paddy's passion for learning and rugby, going on to Regent House with Paddy and later to captain Ards Rugby Club before becoming Vice Principal of Movilla School.
He attended Regent House Grammar School. It was there that his talent for rugby union became evident, and he played for the school 1st XV and also the local Ards RFC team from the age of 16. While at school he also played cricket and golf, and showed aptitude as a marksman in the rifle club. On leaving school he studied law at Queen's University of Belfast, studying to become a solicitor. While at university he took up boxing, becoming Irish Universities Heavyweight Champion in August 1936. He followed this by reaching the final of the British Universities Heavyweight Championship, but was beaten on points. With a handicap of 8, he won the Scrabo Golf Club President's Cup the next year. While at university Mayne was an officer cadet with the Queen's University, Belfast Contingent, Officer Training Corps.
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