BBC’s SAS Rogue Heroes tells the true story of the Special Air Services military group in the Second World War and the soldiers who led them, such as Lieutenant-Colonel David Stirling (Connor Swindells) and Robert Blair “Paddy” Mayne (Jack O’Connell).
It is Mayne, one of the SAS’s most prominent members, who is at the forefront of the second series as it charts the brigade’s campaign in Sicily and Italy prior to the Allied Invasion when Mayne was appointed its commander. Seen as both an exceptional soldier and a loose cannon in real-life, the series explores both the good and the bad aspects of Mayne and his actions during the war.
Here is what you need to know about O’Connell’s real-life counterpart, and why he is seen as a bit of a controversial figure in military history.
Paddy Mayne’s work with the SAS
Mayne was one of the founding members of the SAS alongside Stirling, he thrived as part of the group and led several successful night raiding missions during their North Africa campaign. For example, he led a raid at Tamet airfield where he and his men planted bombs on 30 enemy planes that destroyed them.
This was also the site of one of Mayne’s more controversial actions, as he and his men kicked down the door of a mess hall where Italian and German soldiers were socialising and then opened fire — an event that is recreated in the first series of the BBC historical drama.
Mayne was seen as a daring and brave soldier, but also as unpredictable and quick to anger. If he was drunk, for example, his fellow SAS soldiers knew to steer clear of him because he could become violent with them. One incident saw Mayne go on a drunken rampage through Cairo when he was refused leave to attend his father’s funeral in Northern Ireland.
Despite his violent outbursts, Mayne was recognised as an exceptional soldier and his superiors chose not to court martial him for the drunken rampage in Cairo.
After Stirling was captured and became a prisoner of war in 1943, Mayne was tapped to become commander of the SAS, later renamed the Special Raiding Squadron during their campaign in Sicily. He helped to retrain the men for non-desert warfare and led campaigns in Italy that aided the forthcoming Allied Forces’ invasion Operation Husky.
Read more:
The true story behind Rogue Heroes as series 2 charts SAS Italy campaign
How Channel 4’s Skins catapulted its cast to success
Mayne and the SRS went on to fight behind enemy lines in France, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, and Germany, and their efforts helped to ease the advance of invading Allies. Mayne continued to fight at the forefront of dangerous operations, particularly as he and his forces drove further into Germany.
In April 1945, Mayne was at the front of Operation Howard to capture the town of Oldenberg in Germany, where he went through frontlines in order to rescue Allied soldiers under siege. The group’s B Squadron had been ambushed by German forces, so Mayne and a volunteer took a jeep into enemy territory to conduct a rescue mission — he succeeded in driving away German forces and rescuing the wounded and fallen men.
During his service in World War Two, Mayne earned the DSO four times and became one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the war. His actions during Operation Howard led him to be recommended for the Victoria Cross, which was controversially downgraded to a Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
Historian Ben Macintyre, whose book on the SAS serves as inspiration for the BBC series has previously said of Mayne: “In many ways, Mayne was a critical emblem of the SAS and did much to foster the regiment’s fearsome reputation.”
What happened to Paddy Mayne after the war?
Mayne delayed his return after the war by working with the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey in the Antarctic, but he later returned to his hometown of Newtownards, Northern Ireland, where he began work as a solicitor.
He had suffered spinal injuries during his time in the war which meant that it was difficult for him to continue with any of the sports he had enjoyed prior to it. However his work as Secretary to the Law Society of Northern Ireland meant he was able to travel across Britain and Ireland.
Mayne continued to drink heavily, though, and in 1955 drove home under the influence where he was involved in a car accident with a parked lorry. He died on impact, he was just 40 years old.
SAS Rogue Heroes series 2 is out now on BBC iPlayer, with episodes continuing to air on BBC One from Thursday, 2 January.
