SAS Rogue Heroes: General Montgomery's tribute to Paddy Mayne that was never recognised
SAS Rogue Heroes has returned to BBC One, and with D-Day looming, the SAS heroes are tasked with their next mission, which doesn't sit well with Bill Stirling (Gwilym Lee), who brands it a "suicide mission" during a meeting with General Montgomery (Con O'Neill).
General Montgomery believed Paddy Mayne (Jack O'Connell) to be a key driving force behind the SAS, and in reality, he pushed for Paddy to be recognised for his bravery and dedication. Montgomery had signed off a recommendation for a Victoria Cross - the highest and most prestigious honour - but it was rejected by bureaucrats in Whitehall.
In April 1945, two SAS squadrons came under attack by German paratroopers outside Oldenburg. Despite being ordered not to lead missions in the field, Paddy Mayne rushed to the scene.
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He single-handedly took out the source of the intense enemy fire, with Lieutenant John Scott later recalling Paddy's actions, saying: "He drove up the road past the position where the squadron commander had been killed a few minutes previously, giving me cool precise fire orders."
"We stopped, turned the jeep around and drove back again into cover... Colonel Mayne fully realised the risk [of extricating the survivors], yet once more turned the jeep round and drove up the road... He jumped out of the jeep giving me orders to continue firing, lifted the wounded out of the ditch, placed them in the jeep and drove back to the main party."
"The enemy had by now been mainly killed or wounded, the few who remained were in full retreat."
Not only did he save the lives of those injured, but he also dismantled most of the enemy defences, and it was these courageous acts that led to his Victoria Cross recommendation.
However, it was anonymously withdrawn six months later before it could be awarded. The reason for this is still a topic of debate today.
Paddy died at the young age of 40, in December 1955, and there were suggestions that he should be honoured posthumously.
Over 100 MPs from Westminster signed three parliamentary motions in 2005 advocating for a retrospective award, but it was once again rejected.
Montgomery was known to have praised Paddy's "brilliant military leadership and cool calculating courage".
Despite this, his Victoria Cross recommendation was downgraded to his fourth DSO (Distinguished Service Order) instead.
SAS Rogue Heroes can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.
