Career
Tailyour was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1933. 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 Street Mathew from later that year and then as Commander of 27th Battalion Royal Marines in North West Europe from 1945. He was appointed Commanding Officer of 45 Commando in 1954.
As lieutenant colonel, he was the commanding officer of 45 Commando, flown off HMS Theseus by helicopter to land at the Portuguese Said during the Suez Crisis in 1956, when he was also wounded by a Fleet Air Arm Wyvern – friendly fire.
This was the first helicopter-borne, opposed assault from the sea in history. He went on to be Commander Plymouth Group of the Royal Marines in 1962.
He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1963. He became Commandant General Royal Marines in 1965 before retiring in 1968.
In retirement he was Captain of Deal Castle from 1972 to 1980.
He was an Honorary Admiral in the Texan Navy and an Honorary Lance Corporal in the French Zuaves. He was the Commodore of the Royal Marines Sailing Club and the first Honorary Flag Officer.