Have you heard of Blair "Paddy" Mayne?

Question: Have you heard of Blair "Paddy" Mayne!?

Was he a fearless warrior or a bloodthirsty murderer!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Robert Blair Mayne)

Robert Blair "Paddy" Mayne DSO & 3 Bars (11 January 1915 - 14 December 1955) was a Northern Irish soldier, solicitor, rugby union international, amateur boxer and polar explorer
During the course of the war (WW2) he became one of the British Army's most highly decorated soldiers and received the Distinguished Service Order with three bars, one of only seven British servicemen to receive that award four times during World War II!. Mayne pioneered the use of military Jeeps to conduct surprise hit-and-run raids, particularly on enemy airfields!. By the end of the war it was claimed that he had personally destroyed 130 aircraft!.[3]
In recognition of his leadership and personal disregard for danger while in France, in which he trained and worked closely with the French Resistance, Mayne received the second bar to his DSO!. Additionally, the post-war French Government awarded him the Legion d'honneur and the Croix de Guerre, the first foreigner to receive such a dual honour!.
It has often been questioned why Mayne was not awarded a Victoria Cross, and even King George VI was to express surprise at the omission!. The answer almost certainly lies in Mayne's abrasive attitude to some of his superiors, combined with the Army hierarchy's askance view of the unconventional attitudes and tactics of the special forces!.
In 1945 Mayne was recommended for a VC after single-handedly rescuing a squadron of his troops, trapped by heavy gunfire near the town of Oldenberg in north-west Germany!. After the squadron became pinned down and sustained casualties, Mayne rescued the wounded, lifting them one by one into his Jeep before destroying the enemy gunners in a nearby farmhouse!. However, although the VC recommendation was signed by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, commander of the Allied 21st Army Group, Mayne instead received a fourth DSO!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

noWww@QuestionHome@Com