Francis Festing (1902-1976) è stato un militare dell’esercito inglese, padre di Matthew Festing 79° Gran Maestro dell’Ordine di Malta.
Ritiratosi dalla vita militare nel 1961, si dedicò al collezionismo militare, orientandosi soprattutto su armi da fuoco storiche e spade.
Un raffinato e raro fucile calibro 12 appartenuto alla collezione di proprietà del maresciallo Sir Francis Festing, offerto in asta alla Bonhams Sporting a Knightsbridge il 3 dicembre, per una stima di £ 12.000 a £ 16.000.
“Frankie Festing” si è distinto durante le campagne nell’Oceano Indiano e la Birmania durante la seconda guerra mondiale e la sua carriera dopo la guerra è stata anch’essa ricca di soddisfazioni.
Sottoposto alla valutazione presso il fabbricante, Boss & Co di St James, Londra, è stato confermato che il fucile è stato fabbricato nel 1893 ed è uno dei soli quattordici prodotti.
Frankie Festing è stato istruito a Winchester College prima di essere destinato al 3° Battaglione del Rifle Brigade nel 1921. Nel 1940 divenne Comandante del 2° Battaglione East Lancashire Regiment e poi nel 1942 Comandante della Brigata di Fanteria Independent Group che era la forza da sbarco di stanza nell’Oceano Indiano, in particolare Madagascar.
Nell’immediato dopo guerra fu al comando delle Forze britanniche ad Hong Kong e nel 1952 anche in Egitto. Infine dal 1958 al 1961 è stato Capo di Stato Maggiore Generale Imperiale, culminando una splendida carriera e dedicandosi così completamente
Patrick Hawes, responsabile per il dipartimento Sporting Guns di Bonhams, commenta: “Questo rarissimo fucile Boss rappresenta una ooportunità unica per i collezionisti e noi siamo orgogliosi di poterlo offrire”.
By Andrea Foffi e Manuel Galvez
www.meridianae.com – info@meridianae.com
www.oredelmondo.com – info@oredelmondo.com
121 Year old shotgun owned by field Marshal Sir “Frankie” Festing for sale at “Bonhams Sporting Gun” sale
Festing led the seizure of Vichy French ports and airfields in the Indian Ocean and led the 36th Division in Burma.
A fine and rare 12-bore shotgun once owned by Field Marshall Sir Frances Festing, GCB, KBE, DSO, is offered in Bonhams Sporting sale in Knightsbridge on December 3rd, for an estimate of £12,000 to £16,000.
Field Marshal Festing was known as a soldier who led from the front. “Frankie Festing” distinguished himself during WW2 campaigns in the Indian Ocean and Burma and his post war career was as successful.
The shotgun makers, Boss & Co, of St James, London, have confirmed that the gun was completed in 1893 and is one of only fourteen ever made. This particular gun was made for a Mr Morton H. Festing Esq.
‘Frankie’ Festing (1902-1976) was educated at Winchester College before being commissioned into the 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 Independent Infantry Brigade Group which was the landing force of Force 121 for Operation Ironclad, the seizure of Vichy French ports and airfields in the Indian Ocean, notably Madagascar.
In November 1942 he took command of 36th Division, which was the only all British Division in Field Marshal Slim’s 14th Army, all the other Divisions were largely drawn from the Indian Army which included 29th Infantry Brigade, and at the beginning of 1944 led it in the final stages of the Arakan offensive of the Burma Campaign.
In mid-1944 the division moved to Northern Burma as part of the US led Northern Combat Area Command before rejoining 14th Army. Festing had a reputation as a front line soldier and on 29 October 1944 he personally led the advance platoon of the 36th British Division into Mawlu.
He was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong between 1945 and 1946, and again from June to September in 1949. He became General Officer Commanding British Troops in Egypt in 1952, General Officer Commanding Eastern Command in 1945 and Commander-in-Chief Far East Land Forces in 1956. From 1958 to 1961 he was Chief of the Imperial General staff.
Patrick Hawes, Head of Sporting Guns at Bonhams, comments: “This is a fine example of a very rare Boss hammer gun and together with the provenance it’s a very collectable gun.
By Andrea Foffi e Manuel Galvez
www.meridianae.com – info@meridianae.com
www.oredelmondo.com – info@oredelmondo.com
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