Ewen Southby-Tailyour
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel
Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE
is an author, sailor, and retired Royal 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 and served in a number of RN ships as well as those from France and the United States. 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 where he was awarded the Sultan's Bravery Medal for gallantry in action - the approximate equivalent of the UK's Distinguished Service Order - DSO.
. In 1982 he was voted the United Kingdom's Yachtsman of the Year.
During the war, Southby-Tailyour was often ignored by Rear 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
despite being ordered to do so by Southby-Tailyour. The disastrous result was that subsequently the ship was struck by Argentine bombs resulting in the deaths of 48 Welsh guardsmen.
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 was retained by ABS Hovercraft
Limited as their amphibious and military adviser while also learning to 'fly' hovercraft. Currently he is believed to be aligned to Griffon Hovercraft.
In 1991, he established an Amphibious Consultancy that advises builders and governments on the design of amphibious vessels and the procedures for their operation. For ten years he was a member of the RNLI's Boat Committee .
He has published nine books on amphibious-related subjects (plus a novel) and is a commercial yacht
skipper and amateur explorer. He was the South of England Firefly champion in the late 1970s while his many sailing awards include twice being presented with the Royal Cruising Club's Goldsmith Exploration Award and two engraved Rolex watches from the Royal Yacht Squadron.
One of his books - 3 Commando Brigade, Helmand - reached number seven in the Sunday Times best selling list. He has also written an historical novel of the Falklands that has been optioned for a full-length feature film. His other interests include watercolour painting, shooting and snorkeling. He is a member of the World Ship Trust, the National Maritime Historical Society of America, the Society for Nautical Research
, the Royal Institute of Navigation
and the Society of Authors. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Institute of Navigation.
His wife is a senior magistrate on the Plymouth Bench.
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
is an author, sailor, and retired Royal Marine who served for 32 years in the Royal Marines
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
specialising in (and often commanding) amphibious vessels from all the NATO countries. He has held various appointments in four Commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
units and served in a number of RN ships as well as those from France and the United States. His father General Sir Norman Tailyour
Norman Tailyour
General Sir Norman Hastings Tailyour KCB DSO was a Royal Marines officer who became Commandant General Royal Marines.-Military career:Tailyour was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1933...
was Commandant General Royal Marines
Commandant General Royal Marines
The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1945...
from 1965 to 1968.
His career included active service operations in Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Oman
Oman
Oman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
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
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
(oil-rig protection), Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, the Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
, Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
and the South Atlantic 1977-1979 (before the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
).
He was attached to the USMC
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in 1977 in the eastern Mediterranean and, earlier for six months, to the French Commando Hubert in Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
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 where he was awarded the Sultan's Bravery Medal for gallantry in action - the approximate equivalent of the UK's Distinguished Service Order - DSO.
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. Despite the then Chief Hydrographer of the Royal Navy stating at the time that Southby-Tailyour's work was the "Amateur jottings of an itinerent yachtsman and of no value to this department" this work and his personal knowledge of the area would later prove highly valuable in the Falklands WarFalklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
. In 1982 he was voted the United Kingdom's Yachtsman of the Year.
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 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 appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire - OBE - although he had also been recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross - DSC.During the war, Southby-Tailyour was often ignored by Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
Sandy Woodward
Sandy Woodward
Admiral Sir John Forster "Sandy" Woodward GBE, KCB is a British Admiral who commanded the British Naval Force in the South Atlantic during the Falklands War.-Naval career:...
. Unfortunately, on one occasion there was some controversy over the landing procedures at Fitzroy/Bluff cove
Bluff Cove
Bluff Cove Bluff Cove Bluff Cove (Spanish: Bahia Agradable or Hoya Fitzroy is a sea inlet and settlement on East Falkland, in the Falkland Islands, on its east coast...
, with resultant miscommunication between Naval and land forces that led to the delay of disembarking the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
from the RFA
Royal Fleet Auxiliary
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary is a civilian-manned fleet owned by the British Ministry of Defence. The RFA enables ships of the United Kingdom Royal Navy to maintain operations around the world. Its primary role is to supply the Royal Navy with fuel, ammunition and supplies, normally by replenishment...
ship Sir Galahad
RFA Sir Galahad (1966)
RFA Sir Galahad was a Round Table class landing ship logistics vessel belonging to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. She was first managed for the British Army by the British-India Steam Navigation Company, before being transferred in 1970 to the RFA, part of the British fleet, .-Design and...
despite being ordered to do so by Southby-Tailyour. 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
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
for duties in the Republic of Serbian Krajina
Krajina
-Etymology:In old-Croatian, this earliest geographical term appeared at least from 10th century within the Glagolitic inscriptions in Chakavian dialect, e.g. in Baška tablet about 1105, and also in some subsequent Glagolitic texts as krayna in the original medieval meaning of inlands or mainlands...
and, subsequently, in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
along the Dalmatian Coast. He was retained by ABS Hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
Limited as their amphibious and military adviser while also learning to 'fly' hovercraft. Currently he is believed to be aligned to Griffon Hovercraft.
In 1991, he established an Amphibious Consultancy that advises builders and governments on the design of amphibious vessels and the procedures for their operation. For ten years he was a member of the RNLI's Boat Committee .
He has published nine books on amphibious-related subjects (plus a novel) and is a commercial yacht
Yacht
A yacht is a recreational boat or ship. The term originated from the Dutch Jacht meaning "hunt". It was originally defined as a light fast sailing vessel used by the Dutch navy to pursue pirates and other transgressors around and into the shallow waters of the Low Countries...
skipper and amateur explorer. He was the South of England Firefly champion in the late 1970s while his many sailing awards include twice being presented with the Royal Cruising Club's Goldsmith Exploration Award and two engraved Rolex watches from the Royal Yacht Squadron.
One of his books - 3 Commando Brigade, Helmand - reached number seven in the Sunday Times best selling list. He has also written an historical novel of the Falklands that has been optioned for a full-length feature film. His other interests include watercolour painting, shooting and snorkeling. He is a member of the World Ship Trust, the National Maritime Historical Society of America, the Society for Nautical Research
Society for Nautical Research
The Society for Nautical Research was founded in 1910 to promote the academic field of maritime history in the United Kingdom.The aims of the society are to:* support and encourage research in maritime history and underwater archaeology....
, the Royal Institute of Navigation
Royal Institute of Navigation
The Royal Institute of Navigation is a British institution devoted to the art and science of navigation established in 1947.Its aims are to bring navigators together, to develop navigational techniques and to increase public awareness of navigation. It is based in Kensington, London. It was...
and the Society of Authors. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Institute of Navigation.
His wife is a senior magistrate on the Plymouth Bench.