Portrait of Fang Hsien-chüeh

Fang Hsien-chüeh (方先覺將軍1906-1983), native of Hsiao-hsien, Kiangsu Province. In the 9th year of the Republic (1920), he studied at the Nanking Secondary School. In the 13th year of the Republic (1924), he studied at the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law. In the following year, he enrolled at the Whampoa Military Academy. 

From the 15th year of the Republic (1926) onwards, he was consecutively appointed platoon commander, company commander and battalion commander. In the 21st year of the Republic (1932), he was appointed deputy regimental commander. In the following year, Japan invaded Jehol and he was wounded in the ensuing battle. In the 27th year of the Republic (1938), he was promoted to regimental commander of the 3rd Army Division. He took part in the battles at T’ai-erh-chuang, Wu-han, and Chiu-chiang. In the 28th year of the Republic (1939), he was promoted to division commander of the 10th Reserve Army Division. He took part in the battles in the south of Anhwei Province, as well as the east and west of Chekiang Province. In the 31st year of the Republic (1942), he took part in the second and third battles in the north of Hunan Province, and was awarded the Order of Resplendent Banner. In the 33rd year of the Republic (1944), he was assigned to defend Heng-yang City. A combined force of 50,000 from the Japanese Army and Air Force attacked the city. He defended the city against great odds for forty seven days. The city fell and he escaped to Nanking. He was awarded the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun. He was promoted to lieutenant general deputy commander of the 36th Army Group.  

After the fall of mainland China, in the 42nd year of the Republic (1953), he was appointed lieutenant general deputy commander of the P’eng-hu Defense Command. In the 52nd year of the Republic (1963), he was appointed lieutenant general deputy commander of the 1st Army Group. 

President Chiang Kai-shek (right) and Lieutenant General Fang Hsien-chüeh (left)

Certificate of Appointment to the rank of lieutenant colonel of infantry, issued on 2 October 1936

Certificate of Appointment to the position of executive committee member of the Chinese Kuomintang Bureau of the 10th Reserve Army Division, issued on 26 February 1940

Certificate of Appointment to the position of special commissioner of the Chinese Kuomintang Bureau of the 10th Reserve Army Division, issued on 15 March 1940