2 SAS... Major Roy Farran, DSO, MC!

[WJ Miller]

I was researching/photographing a veteran's grave this afternoon, out in the middle of nowhere and came across a very surprising marker. This is Foothills Cemetery, between the villages Turner Valley and Black Diamond some 60 Km SW of Calgary.

Out amongst the markers for our lowly privates, gunners, sappers etc. of the various CEF and WW2/Korea markers was this stunning stone... you see one of these and you stop to read it! Almost takes a second marker just to list all the honours.

I must admit to ignorance of who Major Farran was and the controversy around him, until I got back home to Google his name. Even as a local politician I didn't recall him (a bit before my time). Even more surprising to me was finding him buried in this very small, out of the way field of honour. There is only about 50 veterans and few dozen other civilians buried here.