Palestine Roy Farran

1 palestine

1.1 free hand against terror
1.2 alexander rubowitz affair
1.3 lehi bombing of family home

palestine

when farran arrived in palestine, british authorities in midst of attempting suppress jewish paramilitary organizations operating in mandate. largest , effective of these groups known irgun, controlled between 5,000 , 6,000 paramilitary members proficient in sabotage , street fighting, intelligence section staffed number of ex-special operations executive , secret intelligence service operatives british joint intelligence committee labelled excellent . although irgun , other jewish paramilitary groups outnumbered ratio of 20:1 british security forces, british attempts end activities hampered inadequate intelligence organization understaffed , over-stretched, many of small number of personnel consisting of enterprising amateurs seconded other units. political violence jewish paramilitary groups began when war came end, , 1947 palestine had experienced large number of attacks against british targets. debates raged in london on best course of action combat attacks. on 2 march 1947, martial law declared throughout tel aviv , jewish sector of jerusalem, intended aim of differentiating paramilitary members civilian population , ending attacks. however, had opposite effect, , number of attacks doubled.

free hand against terror

after 2 high-profile kidnappings, cabinet acceded field marshal bernard montgomery s request restrictions on force employed in security operations lifted, despite opposition colonial office , fact cabinet had signalled intention withdraw palestine. former royal marine nicol gray, inspector general of palestine police, impressed wartime exploits of special forces units behind lines, authorized brigadier bernard fergusson (who had served in chindits orde wingate leader of special night squads) create covert teams along similar lines. in police heard of new unit aghast, , gray s tough-minded predecessor john rymer-jones moved warn tactic end in catastrophe. fergusson ignored him , recruited 2 former 2nd sas men, alastair macgregor (then mi6) , roy farran commanders. authors have seen farran odd choice assignment given propensity contravene direct orders, lack of experience in security or police work and, own later account, drink problem. macgregor operate in north palestine , farran south, while fergusson took jerusalem squad pending arrival of third squad commander; these areas conformed military zones, not 6 palestine police districts. subsequently fergusson said concept provoke contact , give insurgents bloody nose , while sir henry gurney insisted squads had never been authorized use outside normal police methods. farran, or later claimed, thought had been given carte blanch... free hand . there short period of training , largely consisted of intensive pistol , close quarters battle practice. utilizing jeeps, citrus-fruit delivery truck , dry-cleaner s lorry, farran s team moved among jewish civilians in jewish clothing , made several arrests in month active, although alert insurgents recognized them british forces more once. farran did not have fluent hebrew speakers, didn t liaise criminal investigation department out of security concerns, , unit lacked accurate intelligence on insurgents.

alexander rubowitz affair

on 6 may 1947, 16-year-old alexander rubowitz disappeared while putting posters jewish paramilitary group lehi. palestine police cid believed had been caught , killed farran s squad; gurney ordered them proceed case ordinary criminal offence object of bringing farran , other accused trial . according account ruled inadmissible @ farran s trial, rubowitz taken remote location where, after brutal attempts extract information, killed farran rock , body given arab disposal. body never found. suspicions of farran s involvement first raised after grey trilby hat, bearing worn lettering compatible name, found near street corner struggling rubowitz seen being pushed car. farran claimed being framed , fled syria. colonel bernard fergusson persuaded farran return voluntarily. however, when, contrary fergusson s assurances, arrested, farran escaped jordan, returning when heard of reprisals being planned against british officers. brought trial in british military court in jerusalem.

farran court martialled on charge of murdering alexander rubowitz. colonel fergusson, whom farran said have confessed guilt, refused testify, on grounds might incriminate himself. notes made farran while in custody , found after escape reportedly contained confession, judged preparation defence, , inadmissible under rules of lawyer-client privilege. prosecution failed prove hat farran s or rubowitz dead. result case collapsed lack of evidence. rubowitz s family made many unsuccessful attempts revive case. alexander rubowitz s body has never been found. after trial fergusson told resign , out of country within 36 hours.

lehi bombing of family home

after return palestine, lehi attempted kill farran posting parcel bomb family home in codsall, staffordshire. package arrived 1 year day after alexander rubowitz had disappeared, roy farran away , explosion killed francis rex farran, younger brother. bomb sent lehi cell in britain led yaakov heruti, had assembled it. in episode of bbc2 television documentary series empire warriors first broadcast on 19 november 2004, knesset member , former lehi operative geulah cohen claimed letter had been addressed r. farran , without knowledge of younger brother. documentary shortlisted international film award.