Public Lecture | Lt Col (Rtd) Francis Brancato OBE JP

Lt Col (Rtd) Francis Brancato OBE JP, was educated at The Gibraltar Grammar School and The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst where he was awarded the prestigious ‘Director of Studies’ prize for meritorious academic performance. Commissioned into the then Gibraltar Regiment, he enjoyed a full career with the Regiment, serving in various appointments and deploying on operations to Northern Ireland, Belize , Cyprus and the Balkans. On promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, he commanded the Regiment from 1999-2003. Undoubtedly the highlight of his tenure in command came in 2001 when he commanded The Queen’s Guard at The Royal Palaces, the first time the Regiment had undertaken Public Duties in London. He retired in April 2004 to take up civilian employment initially with the Ocean Village luxury development project and later with Gibtelecom. Francis is a graduate of the Army Staff College and the Ashridge Business School. In 2011, he was made a Justice of the Peace (JP) and was appointed Honorary Colonel of The Regiment in 2017. He is also the current Chairman of The Royal British Legion (Gibraltar Branch). He has written several articles on military history for The Gibraltar Chronicle and has recently had published an article in this year’ Gibraltar Heritage Trust Journal. He is currently working on a book about Gibraltarians in both World Wars.