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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Farran, Roy Alexander |
| Date of birth: | January 2nd, 1921 (Purley/Surrey, Great Britain)
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| Date of death: |
June 1st, 2006 (Canada)
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| Nationality: |
British |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Service number 129133.
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 Alies 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)
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Rank:
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Second-Lieutenant
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Unit:
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Royal Armoured Corps (Dragoon Guards).
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Awarded on:
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November 4th, 1941
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MILITARY CROSS (MC)
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Rank:
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Acting Captain
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Unit:
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Royal Armoured Corps (Dragoon Guards)
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Awarded on:
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March 26th, 1942
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Details:
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Second MC awarded as a bar for on the ribbon of the first MC
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MILITARY CROSS (MC)
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Rank:
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Temporary Captain
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Unit:
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Royal Armoured Corps (Dragoon Guards) (Northampton)
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Awarded on:
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February 10th, 1944
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Details:
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Third MC awarded as second bar for on the ribbon of the first MC.
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DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)
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Rank:
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Temporary Major
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Unit:
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Army Air Corps
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Awarded on:
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March 29th, 1945
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Action:
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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."
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