- Francis Festing
Infobox Military Person
name= Sir Francis Festing
lived=28 February 1902 -3 August 1976
caption=Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing
Crown Copyright
nickname=
placeofbirth=Dublin ,Ireland
placeofdeath=Hexham ,Northumberland
allegiance=flagicon|United KingdomUnited Kingdom
branch=
serviceyears=1921 - 1961
rank=Field Marshal
unit=
commands=2nd BnEast Lancashire Regiment
29th Infantry Brigade
36th DivisionHong Kong
British Troops inEgypt
Eastern Command
Far East Land Forces
battles=World War II
awards= GCB, KBE, DSO
relations=
laterwork=Field Marshal Sir Francis Wogan Festing GCB KBE DSO (28 August 1902 -3 August 1976 ), called 菲士挺 in Chinese, was afield marshal of theBritish Army . He was father of Fra' Matthew Festing, Grand Master ofSovereign Military Order of Malta .Army career
Educated at
Winchester College Festing was commissioned into 3rd Battalion the Rifle Brigade in 1921. [Heathcote, Anthony pg 118]In 1940 he became
Commanding Officer of 2nd BattalionEast Lancashire Regiment and then in 1942 Commander of 29th Infantry Brigade which was deployed toMadagascar . [Heathcote, Anthony pg 119]In November 1942 he took command of 36th Division during the
Arakan offensive of theBurma Campaign . He wasGeneral Officer Commanding Land ForcesHong Kong between 1945 and 1946, and againGeneral Officer Commanding Hong Kong from June to September of 1949.Heathcote, Anthony pg 120]He became
General Officer Commanding British Troops inEgypt in 1952,General Officer Commanding Eastern Command in 1954 andGeneral Officer Commanding Far East Land Forces in 1956.From 1958 to 1961 he was
Chief of the Imperial General Staff .Retirement
In retirement he collected early firearms and swords. [Heathcote, Anthony pg 121]
References
Further reading
* Wilkes, Lyall (1991) "Festing - Field Marshal: A study of "Front Line Frankie", G.C.B., K.B.E., D.S.O." Book Guild Ltd. ISBN 0-86332-532-7
* Heathcote, T.A. (1999). "The British Field Marshals 1736-1997". Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5###@@@KEY@@@###
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