The Real Farrier: Was He a Survivor of Dunkirk?

The 2017 film Dunkirk by Christopher Nolan has captivated viewers with its stark portrayal of the evacuation of Allied soldiers from Dunkirk during World War II. One of the most memorable characters is Farrier, played by Tom Hardy. The film leaves his fate ambiguous, with the character running out of fuel and seemingly flying towards German forces at the end of the film. However, the real story of Farrier is both more complex and less dramatic.

Character Overview from the Film

In the film, Farrier is a British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who plays a crucial role in the evacuation of Dunkirk. His character leaves the audience guessing about his fate, with the final shot seeing him flying towards the enemy after running out of fuel. Despite the film's visual impact, it does not explicitly show his death, leaving room for diverse interpretations.

The Real Farrier

The character of Farrier in the film is a composite of several real individuals. According to historical records, the real Farrier was not named in the script and did not survive the war. Instead, the character was based on a real Spitfire pilot, Alan Christopher Deere, who played a significant role during the evacuation of Dunkirk.

The Role of Alan Christopher Deere

Alan Christopher Deere, also known as Al Deere, was an RAF pilot who flew a Spitfire during the evacuation. Deere had a challenging journey, as he faced not only the enemy but also the skepticism of the soldiers. They booed rather than applauded him, believing that the RAF had abandoned them. However, this was far from the truth; the RAF had indeed provided crucial support from above, often at much higher altitudes than depicted in the film.

Deere managed to land his plane on the beach where soldiers were being evacuated. He met an army officer who tried to send him to the back of the line, but Deere, who had a background in sports like rugby and boxing, proved his mettle and was allowed to proceed.

Survival and Aftermath

Interestingly, many fictional characters in the film can be connected to real-life heroes. One such individual is Flying Officer Michael D. Lyne, who flew his Spitfire back from the French side of the Channel and landed it on the beach at Deal, a few miles from Dover, in front of a crowd of holidaymakers on May 26th, 1940. His story is detailed in Walter Lord's The Miracle of Dunkirk.

Lyne survived the war and went on to have a distinguished career in the RAF, including serving as Commandant of the RAF College and retiring as an Air Vice Marshal. This highlights that many of the real-life heroes were as remarkable as the fictional characters created for the film.

Survival in Captivity

The treatment of POWs during the evacuation varied depending on who captured them. If captured by the regular army, prisoners of war (POWs) were generally treated more leniently. However, if captured by SS units, they faced summary execution. Given the composition of the British and French airmen who were among the escapees, it is more likely than not that "Farrier" would have survived his time as a POW. In fact, many air force personnel, despite the harsh conditions, managed to escape or survive.

However, it is important to note that the treatment of prisoners, especially Russian officers, deteriorated over time. The Germans had particularly harsh treatment for Russian POWs, viewing them as subhuman and subjecting them to mass killings or forced labor. Similarly, RAF and Canadian airmen who made up the majority of the escapees in the real-life events that inspired the film The Great Escape were killed by the Germans after being captured.

While "Farrier" may have faced challenges in captivity, the historical records indicate that many airmen survived the war and contributed to the eventual Allied victory. This underscores the real and often heroic stories behind the fictional characters in the film Dunkirk.