Military career Roy Farran

1 military career

1.1 second world war

1.1.1 north africa , crete
1.1.2 escape , return duty
1.1.3 sicily , italy
1.1.4 france
1.1.5 operation tombola

1.1.5.1 villa rossi & villa calvi
1.1.5.2 aftermath




1.2 post-war service

military career
second world war
north africa , crete

he posted on attachment 3rd king s own hussars, serving in north african campaign @ time, , joined regiment in time beginning of operation compass. british offensive against italian forces in north africa, began in december, 1940, , participated in battle of sidi barrani. in aftermath of 1 battle, detailed supervise burial party , came across damaged italian tank, entire crew dead; unable recover bodies, farran set tank s petrol tank on fire. after operation compass came end, hussars transferred island of crete, reinforce british , commonwealth forces stationed there after retreat greece. farran attached regiment s c squadron, located several miles west of canea when germans began invasion of crete on 20 may 1941. farran ordered take troop of tanks , block road led village of galatas, , shortly afterwards sighted , killed number of german troops escorting group of 40 captured hospital patients. troop came under attack stukas , hidden ground forces. returning mission farran s troop encountered several germans attempted surrender; ordered them shot, later writing incident occurred in heat of moment. on 21 may, 10th infantry brigade launched successful assault on cemetery hill, in farran participated. german forces able break through british , commonwealth positions around galatas, , farran part of counter-attack in attempt retake village. protested unsuitability of light tanks task told no heavy tanks left. farran later wrote of guilt @ allowing dangerous lead position taken subordinate - did not care orders when suited me, time had chosen obey them because knew killed if did not. should have been in leading tank. instead, there skedgewell dead , pretty young wife waiting @ home. felt if had murdered him. during action wounded in right arm , both of legs, , result captured german forces. @ time awarded military cross, gallantry during service in crete.

escape , return duty

major-general john charles jock campbell on being presented victoria cross commander-in-chief general sir claude auchinleck. campbell newly promoted commander of 7th armoured division, , killed in staff car driven roy farran.

after being captured, flown hospital prisoners of war in athens treatment, , august able walk aid of crutches. made several unsuccessful attempts escape, , succeeded when sentry became distracted; farran able crawl under wire , make way unseen nearby ditch. moved between series of houses, able link number of friendly greek civilians , 3 other escaped australian , british prisoners, , lent money hire caïque sail port of piraeus british-held egypt. group hoped make in 4 days, storm pushed boat off course. boat ran out of fuel after 2 days, , farran created ad hoc sail blankets; water supplies ran out shortly after, , farran forced knock out 1 man became agitated result. fortunately 1 of prisoners, sergeant wright, able make crude water distiller produced enough drinkable water party survive. after 10 days adrift, boat spotted royal navy destroyer 40 miles (64 km) off coast of alexandria. farran awarded bar military cross result of leading greeks , prisoners freedom.

in january 1942, farran appointed aide-de-camp major general john jock campbell, newly promoted commander of 7th armoured division , recipient of victoria cross (for actions in november 1941).

on 26 february 1942, driving campbell in staff car during inspection of forward fighting area around gazala when lost control of car on road of freshly laid clay. car overturned, throwing farran out killing campbell in process , knocking other occupants unconscious; later admitted that, during time awaited rescue, had contemplated committing suicide. when new divisional commander appointed, farran remained divisional staff.

sicily , italy

when british eighth army forced retreat towards el alamein during summer of 1942, farran wounded during luftwaffe attack on division s headquarters. subsequently evacuated britain, pulled number of strings until able convince medical board in february 1943 pass him capable combat; transferred 3 separate units before joining group of new recruits heading middle east join 3rd hussars. however, met old friend led him attempting join new 2nd special air service being formed near algiers. after interview regiment s commander, lieutenant colonel david stirling, , parachute training course, farran became second-in-command of squadron. commanded during operation husky, invasion of sicily, , despite suffering malaria led squadron in assault against lighthouse @ cape passero believed hold machine gun position. led number of reconnaissance , sabotage patrols behind enemy lines.

during september 1943, composite squadron 2 sas landed @ italian port of taranto orders conduct reconnaissance patrols , attack targets of opportunity ahead of general allied advance. during deployment farran commanded section of jeeps d squadron, ambushed number of german convoys , linked advancing canadian forces. became involved in street-fighting on several occasions before moving city of bari, ordered locate escaped allied prisoners of war, managing free 50. report on composite squadron s activities, including farran s jeeps, concluded use had not been justified , sas troops have been better employed conducting sabotage operations. michael asher argues squadron s role have been better suited armoured car unit.

on 3 october, allies made seaborne landing @ town of termoli, aim of outflanking axis positions in area , thereby aid northwards advance of eighth army , united states fifth army. 1st special service brigade formed part of amphibious landings, , attached brigade several special air service units, including 1st special air service regiment, renamed 1st special raiding squadron. farran, detachment of 20 men d squadron of 2 sas, came ashore rest of 1 srs orders create base future raids behind enemy lines. seaborne landings became stalemated against fierce axis resistance, , farran , men joined rest of 1 srs in attempt repel german counterattack supported armour. positioned on ridge light mortar , 6 bren light machine guns, , later several 6 pounder anti-tank guns, farran , men able repel attack. axis forces launched several more assaults on allied positions, farran , men helped repulse, before retreating area. during closing days of october, farran commanded 4 parties of troops 2 sas landed motor torpedo boat near city of ancona, , able destroy 17 sections of railway linked ancona , pescara, laying mines on main road between 2 towns. after being extracted farran , rest of 2 sas spent 4 months in italy, before returning britain in 1944; around time farran received bar military cross successful actions around pescara , ancona.

france

farran remained in britain until august, time western allies had invaded france , gained foothold in normandy. german forces opposing them worn down months of airstrikes , mass artillery bombardments, unaided luftwaffe, allied commanders expected able achieve decisive breakout in normandy. when occurred, believed large number of german troops, particularly panzer divisions, retreat eastwards through orléans gap situated south of paris; in order trap these forces, planned drop several british , american airborne divisions gap blocking force. given codename of operation transfigure, divisions accompanied units 1 , 2 sas, including 3 troops c squadron, 1 of commanded farran. part in operation land airspeed horsa glider 20 jeeps near rambouillet forest, , link pre-existing sas troops operating in area. ultimately, transfigure did not take place, allied ground forces advanced during breakout airborne troops used effectively. however, on 19 august, farran landed 60 men , 20 jeeps @ rennes airfield, under allied control, orders begin operation wallace. jeeps advance 200 miles (320 km) behind german lines , link 50 sas troopers had established base camp near châtillon, north of city of dijon. 1 of number of bases set sas patrols attack retreating german troops , lines of communications. under command of captain grant-hibbert, troopers had spent 3 weeks prior farran s arrival ambushing german convoys , blowing stretch of railway between dijon , langres.

the journey grant-hibbert s position took farran , men 4 days; first 50 miles uneventful, local french resistance fighters able sas troopers avoid german positions. increase chances of not being discovered, farran split jeeps 3 groups, , ordered them maintain distance of 30 minutes , avoid german resistance; unfortunately first group disobeyed orders , drove through village of mailly-le-chateau, occupied german garrison. although group made through village, losing jeep in process, farran , next group ambushed , came under fire, forcing group , following 1 divert south foret de st jean, rendezvousing first group. same process took place on following day, once again leading group encountered german troops , suffered heavy losses, commander surviving , escaping; unable warn other 2 groups, attacked. farran , men able skirt germans, third group destroyed, few surviving. survivors retreated paris, , joined farran parachute insertion @ later date.

now left 7 of original jeeps, farran pressed on, remainder of troopers strafing passing goods train, puncturing boiler on engine , forcing come halt. linked grant-hibbert s men after 1 final encounter during journey, assaulting german radar station , causing german garrison flee; prisoners informed sas troopers believed jeeps advance guard of general george s. patton s united states third army. farran took command of combined group, consisted of composite squadron of 60 troopers, 10 jeeps , civilian truck, , ordered move base avoid further german scrutiny. squadron roamed around until end of august, assaulting german troop convoys , facilities, , split 3 groups maximise area cover , damage dealt german forces. throughout entire time behind german lines supplied royal air force in 36 sorties, supplied sas 12 new jeeps , 36 supply panniers. operation wallace came end on 17 september, when groups linked advance elements of united states seventh army; during month had been active, farran , men had caused more 500 german casualties, destroyed 95 enemy vehicles , more 100,000 gallons of petrol. 17 sas troopers had been lost, including 1 in parachuting accident, 16 jeeps. after linking american forces, farran sent squadron paris , granted week s leave in capital, despite officially being out of bounds british troops. result of these actions, farran awarded distinguished service order, unusually awarded under pseudonym of patrick mcginty ; farran had used name since escape german captivity in 1941, , claimed name reference irish song.

operation tombola

after return, farran took brief journey greece locate greek civilians had helped him escape prisoner of war camp in 1941; successful in doing so, , witnessed beginnings of greek civil war german forces retreated country. in middle of december, farran dispatched italy 3 squadron, 2 sas. squadron had been formed , composed of volunteers british 1st , 6th airborne divisions; farran believed well-trained , highly disciplined. squadron came under command of general mark clark s 15th army group, , between december , february 1945 conducted several small-scale operations in la spezia , brenner pass. these operations small in scale, however, , farran began devise plan deploying larger formation; deployed behind german lines, still close enough 15th army group aid allied ground forces in own operations. focused planning on 3 departments of emilia romagna: parma, reggio emilia , modena; italian partisan brigades operated in each department, controlled headquarters or comando unico , supported allied liaison officer supervised supply drops , tried persuade them fight german forces in area. department liaison officer ready accept arrival of sas forces reggio emilia, suited farran s plan forward-most point of 15th army group 12 miles (19 km) department.

farran wanted command operation, known tombola, himself, forbidden staff officers @ 15th army group s headquarters; did, however, manage permission accompany transport aircraft sas troopers used parachute area. when operation began on 4 march, farran accidentally fell out of aircraft watching parachute drop, although fortunate enough have parachute on @ time , personal kit him. of troopers landed safely, (although 1 officer dislocated shoulder on landing , had left in care of several italian civilians,) , met soe liaison officer, michael lees. lees took farran , men meet commander of local comando unico, formed of 4 brigades – 3 communist , 1 christian democrat. when arrived, farran proposed unico new battalion known battaglione alleato created, core sas company; fleshed out company of right-wing partisans , of russian deserters wehrmacht. although agreed to, farran not enamoured state of partisans when first inspected them, stating of them had physical defect. improve fitness , training, farran arranged several instructors , italian interpreter parachuted in, large quantity of supplies. within few days sas company, strength of 40 men, had arrived form core of battalion, 1 officer , 4 men attached each of other companies in supervisory capacity.

villa rossi & villa calvi

the battalion s first target, proposed both farran , lees, headquarters of german 51 mountain corps (li gebirgs korps) of general valentin feurstein , leaded general friedrich-wilhelm hauck, stationed in area of albinea, 20 miles landed. army group headquarters agreed proposal , supplied aerial photography of headquarters. @ same time, discovered local german forces beginning anti-partisan drive mountains battalion stationed. despite however, farran decided continue attack, , en route headquarters battalion when contacted army group headquarters, withdrew permission attack take place. farran took decision ignore injunction , continue on towards target, on grounds might lose credibility partisans if first operation cancelled. farran had conducted personal reconnaissance of headquarters on 23 march, , battalion arrived in 3 columns @ farm 10 miles (16 km) target on 26 march. there rested until nightfall, , @ 02:00 on 27 march attack on headquarters began.

the headquarters consisted of number of buildings centered around 2 villas: villa rossi, inhabited corps commander himself, , villa calvi, occupied chief of staff. entire garrison consisted of around 300 german soldiers. assault see british sas company , number of italians force way 2 villas, while russian company place between villas , other buildings, preventing rest of garrison intervening. partisans able approach villas without being spotted, quietly eliminating several sentries in process. however, plan use bazooka gain entry villa trashed when misfired. able reach interior of villa force, fierce german resistance meant unable move upstairs , kill chief of staff; therefore used explosives, petrol , looted furniture set villa on fire, ensuring remaining germans stayed inside bursts of machine gun fire. although effective, conflagration meant germans in villa rossi alerted attack before group of partisans attacking villa begin assault; in other villa, occupants put stiff resistance , stymied attempts partisans reach top floor. number of germans killed in firefight, however, , there possibility 1 of these corps commander. under heavy fire, partisans retreated after setting fire villa s kitchen.

the rest of german garrison reacted swiftly attack, , brought russian screen force under machine-gun fire. on farran s signal of red light, entire force retreated area, carrying had been wounded. after day marching through mountains, obscured german search parties mist , rain, battalion arrived in partisan-controlled village. efforts, battalion had 3 british soldiers killed, 8 british , italians wounded; included lees, suffered injuries crippled him permanently – taken light aircraft hospital in florence. 6 russians covering force captured, , thompson states executed on spot . (it has been discovered 6 russian missing, safe @ resistance headquarters days later). 60 germans had been killed partisans, including chief of staff. in aftermath of raid, local german forces undertook drive mountains goal of eliminating partisans. between 28 march , 12 april, aided sas , using heavy weapons, included 75-mm pack howitzer , 3-inch mortars, partisans openly fought germans. battalion attacked 3 times in prepared positions, each time repelling attacks , inflicting heavy german casualties; in 1 attack on 10 april, partisans counted 51 german bodies. after heavy fighting , suffering several local reverses, russian company conducted counter-attack forced germans retreat , end drive.

aftermath

at beginning of april, farran informed united states fifth army planning launch offensive in area in , partisans operating. army s axis of advance lead through modena, farran took decision, approval of army group headquarters, move battalion modena , support local partisans operating there. equipped jeeps, battalion launch attacks on route 12, primary florence-modena route, intention of harassing german troops using it. on 5 april farran received word offensive beginning, , led battalion new area of operations. when arrived, discovered terrain lacked cover partisans; road ran along open valley, force jeeps drive right convoys before opening fire. farran therefore decided target german troops on , around road 75-mm howitzer, , send in jeeps after had been bombarded. initial attack on village of sassuolo, near modena, extremely successful, , partisans launched number of similar raids against route 12.

after series of raids, on 20 april, farran informed fifth army had broken through german lines, , took decision have battalion assault city of reggio emilia, straddled route 12. howitzer used bombard main square of town, , farran later discovered local german , italian fascist garrison believed attack coming vanguard of american armoured division; result, town abandoned 2 hours after shelling had begun. on 22 april, discovered american troops had penetrated near city of bologna, causing german forces retreat down route 12. positioning partisan battalion near sassuolo bridge, farran used howitzer, mortars , machine gun open fire on traffic using bridge, destroying number of vehicles. attack attracted attention of flight of supermarine spitfires, strafed area , inflicted more casualties. after fighting day, farran withdrew battalion area, , after harassing more german transport columns further day, moved battalion modena mop remaining resistance. afterwards, orders came operation cease , british troops travel florence. during time operating, battalion had killed estimated 300 german soldiers , destroyed twenty vehicles, taking 158 prisoners of war, , had suffered 24 casualties in return.

when returned florence , reported army group headquarters, farran informed of reason why headquarters had wanted delay raid on corps headquarters; major attack 15th army group against corps had been scheduled take place 10 days after raid, , feared farran s assault on headquarters alert germans attack. attack had been cancelled, , result of farran believed court-martialled disobeying orders. did not occur, however, , in fact awarded american legion of merit actions during tombola.

post-war service

when second world war in europe came end, farran accompanied 2 sas norway, unit aided in process of disarming german troops stationed there. awarded croix de guerre in 1946, , returned 3rd hussars became regiment s second-in-command. served regiment in syria time, british mandate palestine. during initial period in palestine, several fellow officers when nearby ammunition dump destroyed guerrillas; farran , comrades pursued guerrillas, managing wound 2 of them. shortly after this, farran transferred britain serve instructor @ sandhurst, volunteered seconded palestine police force, maintained order in mandate.