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Hubert Wogan Festing (1882-1918)


Son of major general who served with 1st and 15th DLI awarded DSO posthumously


Hubert Wogan Festing, the son of Major-General Sir Francis Wogan and Dame Selina Eleanor Mary Festing, was born in Kensington, London on 25 October 1882. He had four brothers, one sister and four half-sisters. After private school in Blackheath, Winchester College and Cheltenham he went to Sandhurst Royal Military College.

On 11 May 1901 Hubert was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 1st Battalion Durham Light Infantry and fought in the Boer War in South Africa until 1902. In 1904 he was promoted to lieutenant and served on the North-West Frontier in India, where he was promoted to adjutant of the battalion. On 11 January 1913 he married Elizabeth Dorothy Keen, daughter of General Sir Frederick and Dame Margaret Keen, in Peshawur, India.

In 1914 he was promoted to captain while still serving on the North-West Frontier and was transferred to the General Staff as brigade major of the Nowshera Brigade, taking part in the Swat Valley operations of 1915-1916, when he was mentioned in despatches. Early in 1917, he went to France and, a few months later, was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel in command of a battalion, attached to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. In the winter of 1917, he was transferred to command the 15th Battalion Durham Light Infantry and was mentioned in despatches on two further occasions. At Lieremont on 21 March 1918 his battalion came under heavy attack which was resisted. Later he was ordered to help retake another section and he was killed while leading the attack. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the Birthday Honours, June 1918.

Winchester College at war website, page for Hubert Wogan Festing:
http://www.winchestercollegeatwar.com/archive/hubert-wogan-festing/

Remember the Fallen, Worcestershire war memorials website, page for Hubert Wogan Festing:
http://www.rememberthefallen.co.uk/casualty/festing-hubert-wogan-2/

Birth date: 25-Oct-1882

Death date: 21-Mar-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Beaufort Gardens, Kensington, London (Birth)
23 Victoria Road, Charlton, London, Kent (1891 Census)
King’s Lea, Kemerton, Tewkesbury, Gloucs. (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1918)

Education: Winchester College
Cheltenham
Sandhurst Royal Military College

Family: Father: Major-General Sir Francis Wogan Festing
Mother: Selina Eleanor Mary Festing (nee Carbonnell)
Siblings: Francis Leycester (who served in the Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Flying Corps and was awarded a C.M.G.), Eugene Michael, Maurice Christian (who served in the Royal Marines and was also awarded the D.S.O.), Eleanor Augusta & Harold England Festing (who served in the Border Regiment)
Wife: Elizabeth Dorothy Festing (nee Keen)
Daughters: Pamela Mary & Diana Elizabeth Festing

Military service:

1st & 15th Battalions Durham Light infantry
Temporarily attached to King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
Major, temporary Lieutenant Colonel

Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches (3)
Queen’s South Africa Medal with 3 clasps
1914-1915 Star (India)
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Memorial(s): Durham Cathedral DLI 1914-1918 Book of Remembrance
Pozieres Memorial, France

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards


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