Ewen Southby-Tailyour OBE RM is an author, sailor, and ex-Marine who served for 32 years in the Royal Marines, working with (and often commanding) amphibious vessels from all the NATO countries. He has held various appointments in four Commando units. 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 (before the Falklands (Malvinas) 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.
During the Falklands (Malvinas) War he was the navigation adviser to 'the command' as well as commander of the Task Force Landing Craft Squadron.
His final four years 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
