1. Francis Festing saw active service in the Second World War, taking a prominent role in Operation Ironclad and the Arakan offensive of the Burma campaign, and later advised the British government on ending conscription and reducing the size of the army by fifteen battalions.
Francis Festing was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Festing was commissioned into 3rd Battalion the Rifle Brigade on 23 December 1921.
Francis Festing was promoted to lieutenant on 23 December 1923 and became aide-de-camp to General Sir John Burnett-Stuart in 1926.
Francis Festing went on to be Air Liaison Officer for Eastern Command on 1 February 1936 and, after attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1933 to 1934, and having been promoted to captain on 1 September 1936, joined the staff at the War Office on 15 February 1938 before being promoted to major on 23 December 1938.
Francis Festing was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order for his services in this campaign.
In November 1942 Francis Festing took command of the 36th Indian Division and at the beginning of 1944 led it in the final stages of the Arakan offensive of the Burma campaign.
Francis Festing had a reputation as a front line soldier as illustrated by one quote of an event on 29 October 1944:.
Francis Festing, who is generally at the front, took over, and, probably the highest ranking officer ever to command a platoon, led it into Mawlu.
Francis Festing was mentioned in despatches on 5 April 1945, appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 5 July, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 6 June 1946; all in recognition of his services in Burma.
Francis Festing was awarded the Legion of Merit in the Degree of Commander by the President of the United States for his conduct throughout the war on 8 November 1945.
Francis Festing was appointed Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong from August 1945 and, then having been promoted to major general on 17 August 1946, he returned to the UK to be Director of Weapons and Development at the War Office in February 1947 where he remained until 26 June 1949 and then returned to Hong Kong.
Francis Festing took part in the funeral procession on 11 February 1952 following the death of King George VI and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1952.
Francis Festing was Honorary Colonel of the 50th Machine Gun Battalion of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from 1 February 1948, Colonel Commandant of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from 12 March 1953, Colonel Commandant of the 3rd Green Jackets, The Rifle Brigade from 7 November 1958 and Colonel Commandant of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Green Jackets from 15 June 1968.
Francis Festing died at his home at Tarset near Hexham in Northumberland on 3 August 1976.
In 1937, Francis Festing married Mary Cecilia, from an old recusant family.