Farran, Roy Alexander

Date of birth:: January 2nd, 1921 (Purley/Surrey, Great Britain)
Date of death:: June 1st, 2006 (Canada)
Service number:: 129133
Nationality:: British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Farran, a graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy, was commissioned into the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's) Dragoon Guards.

He saw action from December 1941 to February 1941 in 1941 in Egypt at the battle of Sidi Barrani.

In the battle for Crete he got wounded and was captured. After several attempts he managed to escape from a PoW camp in Athens and sailed for Egypt. After the escape party ran out of water, they were picked up by a British destroyer and brought to Alexandria.

In early 1943 he joined the SAS and led subsequently a raid on Cape Passero lighthouse in Sicily and carried out reconnaissance patrols and sabotage in the south as well as supporting operations for the advancing Allies to the North of Italy.
In August of 1944, Farran landed in Rennes with his squadron of 20 Jeeps to start Operation Wallace which ended in the Vosges Mountains.

His final action of the war was operation Tombola: an attack on the German headquarters of the Gothic line which was the last line of German defence in Italy. Farran disobeyed orders to command the operation from the British headquarters in Livorno by putting in scene a fall from an airplane resulting in a safe landing by parachute and taking command over the operation from there.

After the war he farmed for a few years, became journalist and became politically active in Calgary Canada. He wrote nine books including 'Winged Dagger" which was a post-war bestseller.

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Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Second-Lieutenant
Unit:: "C" Section, 3rd King's Own Hussars, 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Division, New Zealand Military Forces
Awarded on:: November 4th, 1941
Awarded for:: Operation Merkur

"On the 20th May 1941 the squadron in its leaguer area approximately 4 miles W of CANEA, CRETE. At about 0830 hrs, the German parachute troops arrived. 2/Lt Farran was sent to mop-up parachutists and to block the road from GALLATOS. This he did successfully. At about 1100 hrs he saw a party of Germans escorting about 30 or 40 of our hospital patients who had been taken prisoners. He managed with his own tank to kill off the guards and recapture the prisoners. At approx. 1700 hrs the same day 2/Lt Farran and his troop were sent off to assist the 10th Infantry Brigade in their attack on a piece of ground S.W. of GALLATOS which the Germans were thought to be preparing as a landing ground. On Wednesday, 21 May 1941, 2/Lt Farran and his troop were again sent to the 10th Infantry Brigade to assist in their attack on CEMETERY HILL. He was largely instrumental in the attack being successful. At 1400 hrs on Thursday 22 May, 2/Lt Farran's troop led a night attack on the 5th Infantry Brigade. He was unable to get off the road but nevertheless was a great help to the infantry until his leading tank was knocked out and the guns on his won and remaining tank had jammed.

On Sunday, 25 May, at about 1900 hrs when the Germans broke through the line at GALLATOS 2/Lt Farran's torop was sent to the village to co-operate with the infantry. He went into the village, came out, reported on the situation and then went in with the counter-attack which retook the village. During this last action this officer was unfortunately wounded.

Throughout the whole of the operations this officer has shown courage, resource and initiative. He has set a very fine example of determination and leadership to the men under his command. The action at 1700 hrs May 20, at CEMETERY HILL on May 21st and at GALLATOS on May 25th was reported to me by Lt. Col. Kippenberger, New Zealand Forces, under whose command he was at the time."

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Acting Captain
Awarded on:: March 26th, 1942

"This officer was captured in CRETE, he was badly wounded and was flown to ATHENS where he was put into a P/W Hospital. He remained in hospital for seven weeks during which time he, and several other British prisoners of war, tried to escape on numerous occasions; some being successful. Eventually Lt. FARRAN, his wound being nearly healed, managed to escape by crawling under the wire surrounded the hospital grounds. He made a dash for some houses which he reached and lay low until he recovered from the effects of the escape, his wound giving him some trouble. He was helped and aided by some Greek peasants who, at great personal risk, passed him from house to house until he was some distance away from the P/W Hospital. There was a considerable hue and cry as he was the first wounded officer to escape from the hospital.

After running considerable risk, Lt. FARRAN reached ATHENS. He remained in ATHENS for several weeks in the hopes of contacting a British submarine that the Greeks told him would be calling to rescue escapers. This, however, turned out to be a myth and, eventually, with the help of money supplied by friendly Greeks, a caique was hired and Lt. FARRAN and a party of escapers left for EGYPT.

Lt. FARRAN was the senior officer on board, the escapers consisting of a mixed group of British, New Zealanders, Australians, Palestinians, Cypriots and Greeks. After a short time at sea, it was discovered that food and water were running short. Lt. FANNAN took charge of rationing and, with the aid of Lt. SINCLAIR and S/Sgt WRIGHT maintained some degree of order and organisation amid highly difficult circumstances. The Greeks mutinied and finally stole the remaining store of food. The boat encountered several storms and for forty-eight hours were blown out its course. The two officers maintained a permanent guard on the diminishing water supply, Lt. FARRAN on one occasion being forced to lay one man out who went temporarily off his head through lack of water. The engine gave out, the escapers were too weak to paddle. Lt. FARRAN rigged a sail made of two blankets and slow progress was made.

Water was now non-existent. The party's lives were saved by S/Sgt. WRIGHT who made an elementary distiller to extract drinking water from sea water.

Lt. FARRAN experienced great difficulty in maintaining morale, but when some forty miles out of ALEXANDRIA they were sighted by a destroyer and picked up.

Throughout Lt. FARRAN showed great determination and leadership under most trying circumstances, and it is largely due to his perseverance that this party eventually reached safety."

Second MC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first MC

Military Cross (MC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Captain
Unit:: 2nd SAS Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS), Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: February 10th, 1944

"This officer commanded a detachment of 2 SAS Regiment which was landed behind the enemy lines on the night of Oct 27/28th 1943. Operating in the area between just NORTH of River TRONTO and River TORDINO the detachment blew the railway line, cut telephone and telegraph communications and harassed enemy transport - destroying some. The detachment was taken off on the night of Nov 2/3rd.

During this period the success of the detachment was due to the courage, tenacity and leadership of Capt. FARRAN, ably backed up by his men, whom he had trained himself."

Third MC awarded as second bar for on the ribbon of the first MC.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: Jeep Squadron, 2nd SAS Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS), Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: March 29th, 1945
Awarded for:: Operation Wallace-Hardy

Recommendation:
"Major Farran, commanding the Jeep Squadron, comprising 54 men and 16 jeeps of 2nd Special Air Service Regiment, landed by Dakota at Rennes on 19 August 1944.

This Squadron operated continuously from that date until 17 September 1944, harassing the enemy in his rear areas from Orleans to St. Loup.

Confirmed damage inflicted on the enemy by the small force under Major Farran amounted to approximately 500 killed or wounded, 23 staff cars destroyed, 6 motor-cycles and 36 miscellaneous vehicles including trucks, troop carriers and a petrol wagon. In addition, a dump of 100,000 tons of petrol was destroyed, a goods train burnt out and the Germans at Beaulieu panicked into blowing up their R.D.F. station, and evacuating the position. Much essential information and bombing targets were also passed back by W./T.

Squadron casualties were 7 killed, 2 wounded, 1 missing and 2 P.O.W., of whom one subsequently escaped.

On 30 August 1944, Major Farran decided to attack Chatillon (at that time about 50 miles behind the German front). This town was strongly held by the enemy.

Under cover of darkness, Major Farran placed his Squadron in position, covering all entry and exit with jeep and foot parties.

At 0630 hours on 30 August the attack was opened with 3-inch mortar fire on the German H.Q. in the chateaux. 48 mortar bombs were placed on the target. Fierce resistance was encountered from enemy troops in the town, and a reinforcement column of 30 vehicles full of troops was dispersed, and prevented from giving help to the enemy garrison.

After seven and a half hours of hard and successful fighting, Major Farran withdrew his small force to the Foret de Chatillon.

A conservative estimate of the enemy’s casualties is at least 100 Germans killed and a considerable number wounded, whilst S.A.S. casualties were 1 killed and 2 wounded.

This well-conceived and brilliantly executed operation caused the enemy to mistake Major Farran’s Squadron for the advance elements of the 3rd U.S. Army and thereby to withdraw from Chatillon sooner than necessary. His personal courage, initiative and tactical sense enabled him to direct his small force with minimum loss.

At one stage during the operation it seemed likely that the small British force under his command would be destroyed; however, Major Farran with complete disregard for his own safety, moved from party to party encouraging and inspiring his men to press home the attack, thereby ensuring success.

Major Farran is the very best type of officer, and the above is but one example of the offensive spirit and brilliant leadership shown by him, and there can be no doubt that his small force played a considerable part in disorganising the German forces in front of the 3rd U.S. Army."

Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Unit:: 2nd SAS Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS), Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: 1946

Legion of Merit - Officer (LoM - O)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Temporary Major
Unit:: 2nd SAS Regiment, Special Air Service (SAS), Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
Awarded on:: January 16th, 1948

"Major Roy A. Farran, D.S.O., M.C., British Army, performed meritorious service in Northern Italy from December 1944 to May 1945. Commanding a Special Air Service Squadron, he directed his officers and men in parachuting behind enemy lines in the vicinity of La Spezia, and thereafter was conspicuously successful in supplying their needs for sustained harassing operations against the enemy. Later, after he himself had parachuted behind enemy lines, he assumed command of his nearest operational party and led it on many raids which inflicted casualties and damage on the hostile forces. His operations against enemy rear units south of Modena materially assisted the attack of the United States IV Corps. Major Farran's effective leadership of both his special unit and Italian partisans contributed significantly to the success of the 15th Army Group."