A senior Government minister has pledged to review the decision not to posthumously award a Victoria Cross to one of the founding members of the Special Air Service (SAS), Lieutenant Colonel Blair “Paddy” Mayne. The move follows fresh calls in Parliament to recognise his heroism during the Second World War.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Defence Minister Al Carns confirmed that the Honours and Awards Committee will conduct a detailed reassessment of the evidence surrounding Lt Col Mayne’s military record. The aim, Mr Carns said, is to “provide an answer once and for all” regarding whether the legendary soldier should receive the UK’s highest military honour.
Lt Col Mayne, from Newtownards in County Down, was one of the most decorated soldiers of the war, earning four Distinguished Service Orders (DSOs) for his valour and leadership. However, despite repeated nominations, he was never awarded the Victoria Cross—an omission that has long sparked controversy and allegations of bureaucratic error or oversight.
Mr Carns told MPs there was speculation that the appropriate processes were not followed when Mayne’s original VC recommendation was submitted. However, he noted that current records suggest the citation went through the proper chain of command and was considered by “a succession of senior officers… all of whom had significant combat experience.”
In an impassioned speech, the minister added: “Clerical mistakes or errors arising from accidental slips in judgment or language can be corrected, even without a time limit, if the original intent was clear. I will therefore take note of this new evidence… and I will ask the Honours and Awards Committee to review it under these exceptional circumstances.”
The move comes after DUP MP Jim Shannon tabled an early day motion and led a Commons debate in support of the campaign to honour Mayne. Describing his wartime bravery as “the stuff of which legends are made”, Mr Shannon recalled the inspiration Mayne provided to boys growing up in Northern Ireland, including himself.
“When we were boys in Newtownards and Ballywalter, we looked to be that person,” he said. “His actions were those of a man who put others first and went above and beyond the call of duty. There is absolutely no doubt that his actions were heroic and worthy of recognition.”
Ulster Unionist MP Robin Swann (South Antrim) echoed these sentiments, praising Mayne’s role in shaping what has become one of the world’s most elite fighting forces. “Although his name is now etched in military history, one honour that did elude him is the Victoria Cross,” he said. “Today’s debate allows us to look again at the circumstances and potentially correct that.”
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The renewed interest in Lt Col Mayne’s story has been fuelled in part by the success of BBC’s SAS Rogue Heroes, which dramatises the early days of the SAS. In its second series, Mayne is portrayed by actor Jack O’Connell, who steps into the role of the unconventional leader attempting to prove the regiment’s worth to military top brass.
Labour MP Alison Hume, formerly a screenwriter before entering Parliament, praised the series and its creators for bringing Mayne’s legacy to a wider audience. “Paddy Mayne is unforgettably played in the series by Jack O’Connell, bringing the character to vivid life,” she said. “The producer of the show, Stephen Smallwood, told me that filming in 50-degree heat in the Sahara made the actors feel just as tough as the SAS—until they remembered they had air-conditioned hotels and cold beers waiting.”
As the review into Mayne’s recognition moves forward, supporters hope the decision will finally bring long-awaited justice to one of Britain’s greatest military figures. Whether the Honours Committee will agree remains to be seen, but there is growing consensus that a reassessment is both warranted and overdue.
