SAS: Rogue Heroes – the Authorized Wartime History

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Robert Blair Mayne was born in Newtownards, County Down, Ireland in 1915. He was the 6th child of 7 born in a Protestant family, and was always known as “Paddy”. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ It is unknown why the decision was made to deny Paddy Mayne the Victoria Cross, and a controversy that remains ongoing to this day.

Billy Foley, writing in The Irish News, was somewhat more critical of the artistic license employed, particularly in the depiction of Paddy Mayne. Far from being "a brutish, rough man who was looked down on by the aristocracy of his native Newtownards and despised the toff officer class of the British army", Foley pointed out that the ostensibly working class Mayne was in fact born to a landed family, went to grammar school, played rugby for the British & Irish Lions, and studied at Queen's University Belfast before qualifying as a solicitor. [18] Historian Damien Lewis also said it was "nonsense" to portray Mayne as a "thug and drunken lout", when he "cared passionately for those men he commanded". [19] In October 1945 the army wound up the SAS and it continued to exist by subterfuge, a unit of war crimes investigators searching for evidence across Europe that SAS members had been murdered. In 1947, to meet the many crises of empire, the SAS was revived. What it did then and since can be guessed at, but until the postwar unit diaries are revealed, like the wartime diary used by Macintyre, the exact details will not be known. A superb study of wartime daring. A compelling tale full of jeopardy: bone-shattering parachute drops, terrifying night-time raids on Nazi airfields, fizzing explosive fuses, near escapes in screaming jeeps, harrowing marches through deserts, frozen forest encounters with desperate Germans and mad, edgy drinking bouts that could end with grenades being flourished'

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Despite the intense opposition of many in British High Command, Winston Churchill personally gives Stirling permission to recruit the toughest, brightest and most ruthless soldiers he can find. And so begins the most celebrated and mysterious military organisation in the world: the SAS.

At the beginning of each episode, the viewer is informed that the series is "[b]ased on a true story", and that "the events depicted which seem most unbelievable… are mostly true". [16] a b Nicholson, Rebecca (30 October 2022). "SAS: Rogue Heroes review – is the follow up to Peaky Blinders fun? Does Arthur Shelby like a drink?". The Guardian. London . Retrieved 31 October 2022.

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His funeral funeral drew hundreds of mourners to pay their respects. Following his death his masonic jewel was kept by an old schoolfriend before being given to Newtownards Borough Council - it is now displayed in the Mayoral Chamber of the Council Offices. As military historian Antony Beevor noted, whilst events surrounding the creation of the SAS "certainly defy belief", it is true that "some liberties with the precise record" were taken – for example, in the scripting of a romantic association between David Stirling and Mansour, the French intelligence agent. However, his opinion was that these were "mainly additions, fleshing out characters and context", rather than being significant "distortions" of the facts. [3] Unlike the main trio of Stirling, Mayne, and Lewes, the character of Eve Mansour is fictional. However, Sofia Boutella, who plays the character, points out that her character is influenced by real-life female spies such as Noor Inayat Khan and Virginia Hall. [17] Bloodlands season 2 ending explained: What happened in the finale of the James Nesbitt police drama? SAS: Rogue Heroes was the sixth most-watched UK drama series of 2022, and the fourth most popular of the year on the BBC. [15] Historical accuracy [ edit ] Members of the ' French Squadron SAS' ( 1ere Compagnie de Chasseurs Parachutistes) in Tunisia. Previously a company of Free French paratroopers, the French SAS squadron were the first of a range of units "acquired" by Major Stirling as the SAS expanded.

According to Den of Geek, there is speculation Mayne’s reputation as a troublemaker could be to blame - he was prone to regular outbursts of violence, especially after drinking. Other sources have argued that downgrading a Victoria Cross to a fourth DSO was standard practice, and Mayne was not the only soldier this happened to. Foley, Billy (12 November 2022). "TV review: SAS Rogue Heroes is not to be relied on but it's great fun". The Irish News. Belfast . Retrieved 25 November 2022. Moreover, it was Stirling who asked General De Gaulle to have Frenchmen in the SAS because he needed men ready to do anything to deal with the Germans. So the 1re Compagnie de Chasseurs Parachutistes was sent, which became the French Squadron SAS. [20]SAS: Rogue Heroes is a British television historical drama series created by Steven Knight, which depicts the origins of the British Army Special Air Service (SAS) during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II. [1] [2] The storyline is a broadly accurate representation of real events, as described by Ben Macintyre in his book of the same name. [3] [4] The first episode was watched 5,526,000 times on iPlayer alone during 2022, making it the fifth most viewed individual programme on the platform that year. [12] Reception [ edit ] Macintyre provides a riveting history of a revolutionary fighting force. Using unprecedented access to British Special Air Service regimental archives, Macintyre has gleaned fascinating material. A ripping good read ( Washington Post 10 Best Books of 2016) a b "First full-length trailer and new pictures released for SAS Rogue Heroes, coming soon to BBC One and iPlayer". BBC Media Centre. 30 September 2022. From the secret SAS archives and bestselling author Ben Macintyre: The first ever authorized history of the SAS.

Thorough and highly entertaining. It would be nigh on impossible to praise it too highly ( Daily Express) Rogue Heroes: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022 . Retrieved 16 November 2022. Excellent... accessible yet authoritative. Delivers stories of tremendous adventure and derring-do, but also offers more than straightforward military history. This book has many strengths but perhaps its greatest is how thought-provoking it is (Laurence Rees Sunday Times) Banged Up 2023 cast: Meet the celebrities experiencing prison life first-hand, as the new Channel 4 reality show begins airing. Rogue Heroes: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022 . Retrieved 11 November 2022.Impeccably researched, superbly told - by far the best book on the SAS in World War II (Antony Beevor) Boutella, Sofia (31 October 2022). "SAS Rogue Heroes | Interview with Sofia Boutella (Eve Mansour)". Bradford Zone (Interview). SAS: Rogue Heroes – Episode guide". BBC One. Choose appropriate episode . Retrieved 24 October 2022. Impeccably researched, superbly told - by far the best book on the SAS in World War II' - Antony Beevor McLean, Craig (25 October 2022). "Tough Enough? What did it take to step into the boots of the men who made a myth?". Radio Times. London: Immediate Media Co. p.19.