- Hardcover: 384 pages
- Publisher: Elmfield Press; n.e. edition (Sep 1973)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0705700127
- ISBN-13: 978-0705700122
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,615,160 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Book Description
The true story of the early days of the SAS, told by a man who was there.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
Roy Farran rose to command an SAS squadron during the Second World War. His classic account of the early years of the SAS became an immediate bestseller when it was first published. Covering action throughout the Middle East, the Mediterranean and Italy, this is the story of how Farran was captured, escaped and went on to lead some of the most daring operations of the war far behind enemy lines. It is a classic volume which demonstrates the fast learning curve required in the heat of battle.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
I SUPPOSE the curtain really went up on Port Said Harbour in September, 1940. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
I SUPPOSE the curtain really went up on Port Said Harbour in September, 1940. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The story is an account of how the wartime SAS operated, with its moments of action, courage, glory, sadness and simply daily and human interaction. It tells of the difficulties in operations behind enemy lines with Resistance and Partisan groups as well those emanating from ones own commanders at home base. The stories are true as I can testify, having had the privilege of visiting most places in France and Italy myself. There I talked with French Resistance people as well as Italian Partisans that operated with Major Farran, alias Patrick McGinty. They confirmed the events as described in the book. It is a great adventure lived by a determined and courageous group of special forces soldiers, yet it also has its moments of humor. I would recommend this book to anybody aspiring to a leadership position, military or civilian. It provides true inspiration.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
It is a pity that later versions of this book have been censured by publishers. Roy Farran wrote his book while in prison awaiting trial for the premeditated murder of a terrorist. He had been serving in Palestine with the British Forces (last chapter also appears to have been unacceptable to the later publishers) and is openly critical of the British Governments weak stand and lack of support of those whose job it was to implement its policies. I can understand his feelings well as I had suffered the same lack of support after 40 years in Government service! This is The Book to read for anyone interested in the early days of the SAS and is far better than later books by people too young to have known what real war is about.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Roy Farran was one of the great fighting men of World War Two - and afterwards, as well. It's strange that I like this book so much, because its structure is pretty shaky - right from the outset, Farran plonks the reader straight into the Middle East in 1940 with no explanation as to his early life or military career. His adventures with the Special Air Service are told so self-deprecatingly that one wonders how on earth he collected his astonishing decorations, including a DSO and an MC and two bars. Perhaps he thought that somebody else would write about how they were acquired - and I hope that one day, somebody will. However, by the end of the book, Farran was rightly furious and he made no attempt to disguise it. After some daring and dangerous exploits in post-war Palestine, Farran was arrested and charged with the murder of a Jewish terrorist. It appears that this was on the thinnest of evidence but that a supine British Government felt that a culprit was required. This, I think is the best section of the book and Farran's hostility comes through hot and strong, so much so that his original publishers performed a highly inexpert hatch-job in editing-out what they must have considered to be the most objectionable sections.
Farran was eventually acquitted and returned home to England; but that verdict did not find favour with the Jewish terrorist group, the Irgun Zvai Leumi who sent a parcel bomb to the Farran family home. It was addressed to `Mr. R. Farran' and was opened by Farran's brother, Rex; it exploded, killing him instantly. Nor was his culpability only the view of the Irgun; I met Farran in 1997 at the Army & Navy Club. During our discourse, he was approached by a deranged-looking man, of his own vintage, who screamed at him `Murderer!' - not that it fazed Farran in the slightest.
Hero or villain? Make up your own mind; but for what it's worth, I happen to think he was rather a great man and one who was let down badly by a gutless British government.
Well worth reading.
Farran was eventually acquitted and returned home to England; but that verdict did not find favour with the Jewish terrorist group, the Irgun Zvai Leumi who sent a parcel bomb to the Farran family home. It was addressed to `Mr. R. Farran' and was opened by Farran's brother, Rex; it exploded, killing him instantly. Nor was his culpability only the view of the Irgun; I met Farran in 1997 at the Army & Navy Club. During our discourse, he was approached by a deranged-looking man, of his own vintage, who screamed at him `Murderer!' - not that it fazed Farran in the slightest.
Hero or villain? Make up your own mind; but for what it's worth, I happen to think he was rather a great man and one who was let down badly by a gutless British government.
Well worth reading.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Roy Farran - Winged Dagger - "Adventures on Special Service"
"Not the least remarkable of all Captain Roy Farran's achievements in an amazing war career is the writing of this story of his adventures in straightforward prose, with no... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Hereward
An exceptional life's story of a man at war
From the beginning of his career in tanks in the desert, through to SAS operation in France and Italy, this is a well written book that captures a lot of on-the-ground details of... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2007 by Tony Keene
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