Бывший командир танка и офицер SAS Рой Фарран: от героического побега в Крите до политической карьеры

Roy Alexander Farran was a highly decorated British SAS officer and tank commander, famed for his daring escape from Crete and a career that spanned soldiering, journalism, farming, and politics. Here is everything you need to know about SAS officer Roy Farran. Early Life and Military Beginnings Roy Alexander Farran (2 January 1921 – 2 June 2006) was born in India, where his father was serving with the RAF, and educated at Shrewsbury School before joining the British Army. He began his wartime service as a tank commander (“tanky”) with the 3rd The King’s Own Hussars in North Africa, seeing action against Italian forces. Capture, Escape, and First Decorations During the Battle of Crete in 1941, Farran led a tank attack on Cemetery Hill, was wounded, and taken prisoner by German forces. He subsequently made a daring escape, recovering from his wounds and undertaking an epic sea voyage from Greece to Egypt to reach friendly lines. For his gallantry in Crete he was awarded the Military Cross (MC), and later received a Bar to the MC for leading Greek prisoners and other captives to freedom after his escape. SAS Service and Major Raids After returning to Britain, Farran transferred to the Special Air Service, joining 2 SAS Regiment. He quickly rose to command an SAS squadron, leading numerous high-risk operations behind enemy lines across the Middle East, Mediterranean, Italy, and France. In Italy he directed attacks around Pescara and Ancona that destroyed transport, cut communications, and blew up railway lines, earning him a second Bar to his MC. Operation Wallace and the DSO In 1944, Farran commanded C Squadron, 2 SAS, during Operation Wallace, a deep-penetration mission into northern France intended to "penetrate deep behind enemy lines and cause carnage." Over roughly a month his jeep squadron harassed retreating German forces, mining roads, blowing rail lines, and ambushing transport, reportedly inflicting around 500 German casualties for just 12 British losses. The operation culminated in a raid on a chateau at Châtillon-sur-Seine, some 155 miles east of Paris, which killed about 100 Germans, destroyed scores of vehicles, and prompted the local German garrison to prepare to withdraw. For these actions Farran was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Read more All you need to know about Anders Lassen - one of SAS' most decorated soldiers Five recently declassified SAS missions that you may not have heard of Five key SAS missions and the intelligence behind them Later War Honours and Post-War Career Farran’s wartime decorations ultimately included the DSO, three Military Crosses (MC & Two Bars), the American Legion of Merit (for services from December 1944 to May 1945), the French Croix de Guerre (1946), and later the Légion d’honneur (1994) for his work with SAS veterans’ organisations. After the war he served in Palestine with special police squads, where he became embroiled in the controversial Rubowitz affair, before leaving the army to pursue careers as a journalist, publisher, farmer, and politician, eventually settling in Canada. He published the bestselling memoir Winged Dagger: Adventures on Special Service, recounting his SAS operations and escape, and died in 2006 aged 85.