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A VC for Blair Mayne ?

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by gooserss (U1983611) on Friday, 6th January 2006

  Blair Mayne, the highest decorated british officer in ww2, genius and madman, was refused a VC for his actions in france 1944. many think this was due to his cavalier behaviour, others that he had help in his actions. There is a campaign gathering support to have this decision overturned.
  Should decisions on awards taken in ww2 be overturned today ?

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Mani (U1821129) on Friday, 6th January 2006

  Medals are worthless pieces of metal, they mean nothing, especially to those that have 'earned' them. Ask the men who have VC's, the are almost embarrassed by it.
  
  I've never come across anyone who fought for medals or thought anything of them. You fight for your buddies, nothing else.
  

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• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by expat32 (U2025313) on Friday, 6th January 2006

  Hi Mani,
  I don’t think any soldier fights for medals. I could be wrong on that. Surely medals are an after action result of an individual’s performance in combat. Our highest Army award is the Medal of Honor. It is not only career enhancing but comes with a lifelong monthy check. When I admire a veterans ribbons it’s like he or she is telling me β€œ This is who I am and what I have accomplished.” President Clinton had a review of WW2 era awards to ensure that race was not a factor when being considered. This resulted in more than a few Japanese/Americans and other minorities getting what they earned. I don’t know anything about the British soldier in question, but if he was denied what he earned then his due is better to be late than never IMO.
  
  Cheers, Matt.

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• Message 4

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by gooserss (U1983611) on Friday, 6th January 2006

  hi expat
  Blair Mayne was one of the first members of the SAS, one of stirlings first recruits from the commandoes. He was in the TA ( rotc ) before the war, an anti aircraft unit. He rose to the rank of LT col. He commanded the sas after stirlings capture.
  He was a maverick, disliked by many in high command because he was not one of them, and also had been in trouble for hitting fellow officers in bars ( in africa he knocked out 6 aussies in a bar and was arrested.)
  Among his many exploits in france he rescued canadian soldiers who were pinned down by german machine gun nests. He drove a jeep up and down the road fring back at the germans with a bren, then drove straight through the wall of the house used by the germans, grenading and shooting until it was all over.
  He was put up for a vc, but it was turned down by the brit high command. As it was he had every other medal, including a dso with 3 bars.
  It has been sugested that, like some american/japanese troops, he was treated unfairly in this case.
  Soldiers dont fight for medals ( good ones i mean), but should get them if they are deserved.
  

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 3.

  Posted by Mani (U1821129) on Friday, 6th January 2006

  Hi Expat,
  
  "I admire a veterans ribbons it’s like he or she is telling me β€œ This is who I am and what I have accomplished.”"
  
  I think that sums it up... Medals mean nothing to the soldiers themselves. I have some pretty 'decent' ones, but in all honesty, the actions themselves were group actions nobody should have been singled out. I did my job, I don't need or particularly want a piece of metal or a ribbon for it. I suppose by virtue none of the squaddies I served with had egos that needed caressing by it. Our Cap badges said we were the best (In our opinions of course...) although there are some Royal Marines who would disagree
  

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• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by Lord Ball (U1767246) on Friday, 6th January 2006

  Isn't this currently being debated in the House of Commons? I always thought he was called Paddy Mayne though?

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