Francis Festing

Field Marshal Sir Francis Wogan Festing GCB KBE DSO (28 August 1902 - 3 August 1976), called 菲士挺 in Chinese, was a field marshal of the British Army. He was father of Fra' Matthew Festing, Grand Master of Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Army career
Educated at Winchester College Festing was commissioned into 3rd Battalion the Rifle Brigade in 1921.

In 1940 he became Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion East Lancashire Regiment and then in 1942 Commander of 29th Infantry Brigade which was deployed to Madagascar.

In November 1942 he took command of 36th Division during the Arakan offensive of the Burma Campaign. He was General Officer Commanding Land Forces Hong Kong between 1945 and 1946, and again General Officer Commanding Hong Kong from June to September 1949.

He became General Officer Commanding British Troops in Egypt in 1952, General Officer Commanding Eastern Command in 1954 and General 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.