[2] He served in the Second World War as commander of the Royal Marines on the Landing Craft Base HMS Robertson from 1943, as executive officer on the Land Craft Base HMS St Mathew from later that year and then as commander of 27th Battalion Royal Marines in North West Europe from 1945.
[2] He was Mentioned in Despatches in 1945 and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his command of the battalion.
[2] As lieutenant colonel, he was the commanding officer of 45 Commando, flown off HMS Theseus by helicopter to land at the Port Said during the Suez Crisis in 1956,[2] when he was also wounded by a Fleet Air Arm Wyvern – friendly fire.
He was again Mentioned in Despatches for his services in the Suez in 1956, and awarded a Bar to his DSO for his command of 45 Commando in Cyprus later that year.
[7] Tailyour's son, Ewen Southby-Tailyour, was also a Royal Marines officer, who served with distinction in Dhofar and the Falklands War.