
Paddy Mayne
Lt Col Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, 1 SAS Regiment (The true story behind the hit TV show SAS Rogue Heroes)
Hamish Ross(Author)
The History Press Ltd
Published on 27. July 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
978-1-80399-372-0 (ISBN)
Description
'The best biography I've read recently' - Colin Bateman, Sunday Independent
'An excellent examination of Mayne... Ross corrects many of the myths about him that have flourished over the years' - History of War magazine
'This welcome reassessment, officially backed and well-researched, sets the record straight' - Soldier magazine
'Paddy' Mayne was one of the most outstanding special forces leaders of the Second World War. Hamish Ross's authoritative study follows Mayne from solicitor and rugby international to troop commander in the Commandos and then the SAS, whose leader he later became and whose annals he graced, winning the DSO and three bars, the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'Honneur.
Mayne's achievements attracted attention, and after his early death legends emerged, based largely on anecdote and assertion. Hamish Ross's closely researched biography challenges much of the received version, using contemporary sources, the official war diaries, the chronicle of 1 SAS, Mayne's papers and diaries, and a number of extended interviews with key contemporaries.
Ross's analysis shows Mayne to be a dynamic, yet principled and thoughtful man, committed to the unit's original concepts. He was far from flawless, but his leadership and tactical brilliance in the field secured the reputation of the SAS, proving he was every bit a rogue hero.
'An excellent examination of Mayne... Ross corrects many of the myths about him that have flourished over the years' - History of War magazine
'This welcome reassessment, officially backed and well-researched, sets the record straight' - Soldier magazine
'Paddy' Mayne was one of the most outstanding special forces leaders of the Second World War. Hamish Ross's authoritative study follows Mayne from solicitor and rugby international to troop commander in the Commandos and then the SAS, whose leader he later became and whose annals he graced, winning the DSO and three bars, the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d'Honneur.
Mayne's achievements attracted attention, and after his early death legends emerged, based largely on anecdote and assertion. Hamish Ross's closely researched biography challenges much of the received version, using contemporary sources, the official war diaries, the chronicle of 1 SAS, Mayne's papers and diaries, and a number of extended interviews with key contemporaries.
Ross's analysis shows Mayne to be a dynamic, yet principled and thoughtful man, committed to the unit's original concepts. He was far from flawless, but his leadership and tactical brilliance in the field secured the reputation of the SAS, proving he was every bit a rogue hero.
Reviews / Votes
'The best biography I've read recently.' -- Colin Bateman * <i>Sunday Independent</i> * 'This welcome reassessment, officially backed and well-researched, sets the record straight.' * <i>Soldier</i> magazine * 'An excellent examination of Mayne... Ross corrects many of the myths about him that have flourished over the years.' * <i>History of War</i> *More details
Edition
New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Stroud
United Kingdom
Edition type
New edition
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
35 Illustrations, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 133 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
305 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-80399-372-0 (9781803993720)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Hamish Ross
Paddy Mayne
Lt Col Blair 'Paddy' Mayne, 1 SAS Regiment (The true story behind the hit TV show SAS Rogue Heroes)
E-Book
08/2011
The History Press Ltd
€9.99
Available for download
Person
HAMISH ROSS PhD became interested in the legendary wartime SAS commander Lt Col Blair 'Paddy' Mayne through a boyhood link with one of the 'L' Detachment originals. What started as a journal article soon turned into a far more substantial work when he saw the extent and quality of the archive material available. Hamish lives in Glasgow.