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Revision as of 10:50, 10 July 2009 by 79.69.21.146 (talk) (→After the Falklands)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Major Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE RM is an author, sailor, and ex-Marine who served for 32 years in the Royal Marines retiring with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel specialising in (and often commanding) amphibious vessels from all the NATO countries. He has held various appointments in four Commando units. His father General Sir Norman Tailyour was Commandant General Royal Marines from 1965 to 1968.
His career included active service operations in Aden, Northern Ireland, Oman, the Falkland Islands, Hong Kong and thirteen winters in the Norwegian Arctic developing the use of fast raiding and assault craft for supporting commando operations. He also served in the US, West Indies, the North Sea (oil-rig protection), Cyprus, Corsica, Malta, Bahrain, the Yemen, Kuwait and the South Atlantic 1977-1979 (before the Falklands War).
He was attached to the USMC in 1977 in the eastern Mediterranean and, earlier for six months, to the French Commando Hubert in Toulon with which he attended their combatant nageur course. He was seconded for two years as a reconnaissance platoon and company commander with the Sultan of Muscat's Armed Forces during the Dhofar War.
Falkland Islands
In 1978, he was the officer commanding a small Royal Marines detachment that was posted to the Falkland Islands. It was then that on his own initiative he sailed around and extensively charted the waters around the islands, and had a 100+ page notebook filled with data on harbors, inlets, landing spots, etc. It is still to this day the most comprehensive sailing guide for the area
Falklands War
After the Argentine forces invaded the Falklands, the British Forces heard of a chap who had extensive knowledge of the islands. They got hold of Southby-Tailyour, who confirmed that yes he did have such data - but refused to give up his precious notebook unless he was assigned as "staff officer without portfolio" to the invasion. He was resultantly made the navigation adviser to 'the command' as well as commander of the Task Force Landing Craft Squadron for which he was awarded the OBE. This work and his personal knowledge of the area would later prove highly valuable in the Falklands War
During the war, Southby-Tailyour was often ignored by Admiral Sandy Woodward. Unfortunately, on one occasion there was some controversy over the landing procedures at Fitzroy/Bluff cove, with resultant miscommunication between Naval and land forces that led to the delay of disembarking the Welsh Guards from the RFA ship Sir Galahad. The disastrous result was that subsequently the ship was struck by Argentine bombs resulting in the deaths of 48 Welsh guardsmen
After the Falklands
Southby-Tailyour's final four years service were spent on the staffs of the Commandant General, Royal Marines, and the Director General Surface Ships (Amphibious Group), helping to design and procure the next generation of amphibious shipping and craft, most notably the LPH, LPD, LCVP Mk 4 and the LCU Mk 10.
On retirement he was employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for duties in the Republic of Serbian Krajina and, subsequently, in Croatia along the Dalmatian Coast. He is retained by ABS Hovercraft Limited as their amphibious and military adviser.
In 1991, he established an Amphibious Consultancy that advises builders and governments on the design of amphibious vessels and the procedures for their operation.
He has published five books on amphibious-related subjects and is a commercial yacht skipper and amateur explorer His other interests include watercolour painting and he is a member of the World Ship Trust, the National Maritime Historical Society of America, the Society for Nautical Research and the Royal Institute of Navigation.
