Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Occupation: bank official, artist

Residence, England: 2003, Heswall; 2010, South Wirral.

(War Subs. Lt.) Robert Fachiri (200739) from Emerg. Commn., promoted from 2nd Lt to Capt. (London Gazette 11 July 1947).

Captain (temporary) Robert FACHIRI (200739), The King's Regiment (Liverpool) (Heswall Hills) received The Military Cross (London Gazette 22 Jan 1946).

On 1 Jul 2009 David and Robert Fachiri, the son and grandson of 5 KINGS DDay veteran, Bobby Fachiri MC, participated in the "Unveiling of a Marker to ensure that the sacrifices of the Kingsmen who took part in the Normandy Landings at Sword Beach in 1944 are never forgotten."

WWII: anti tank platoon commander on D Day. According to William Leece, Daily Post (Liverpool, England), 5 Jun 2009, "Stories from the Longest Day": In the Support Company of 5th Kings Regiment, temporary Captain Bobby Fachiri was surprisingly calm. "It wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be," the 89-year old former Bank of England official and later professional artist recalls at his home in south Wirral. "As we landed it was pretty chaotic, not as chaotic as I thought it might have been as people had been well organised." Bobby Fachiri's task was to man a six-pounder gun, to try and hold off the Panzer division that was trying in vain to halt the relentless advance. "Bloody good soldiers they were, very brave and well-trained," he remembers of the enemy. He was to win the Military Cross for his part in D-Day and later. The citation in the London Gazette reads: "Landing in Normandy on the morning of 6th June 1944 with six anti-tank guns, positions were taken forward of Hermanville-sur-Mer. By his skill and determination, these guns remained in position for six days in spite of penetration of enemy patrols to the rear and constant sniping."

"Kingsmen who fought Nazis in secret war; T Force survivors meet," in the same paper by Tony Barrett, 13 Nov 2003: "One of T Force's most spectacular successes was the capture of a German seaplane base in Travemunde. The operation was led by reconnaissance platoon commander Major Bobby Fachiri, originally from Sefton Park who was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. Now 86 and living in Heswall, Major Fachiri still has fond memories of T Force and the men he served with. He said: 'Although it was a long time ago and my memory isn't as good as it was since I had a stroke a short time ago, I can still remember a lot about what happened back then. One of the best things about the time was the camaraderie that existed between the lads.' Although reluctant to talk about his own role in combat, the citation for the award of Major Fachiri's Military Cross provides a fitting testimony to his valour at Travemunde and almost a year earlier on D-Day. It reads in part:

'Landing in Normandy on the morning of June 6, 1944 with six anti-tank guns,positions were taken up forward of Hermanville sur Mer; by his skill and determination these guns remained in position for six days, in spite of the penetration of enemy patrols to the rear,and constant sniping. On May 2,1945 as reconnaissance platoon commander, he was ordered to take nine reconnaissance cars to Travemunde to prevent destruction of the seaplane base. Arriving on his objective the German Air Force was found to be in possession, but the whole staff and personnel were forced to surrender. This officer by his personal disregard for his own safety and with great confidence successfully completed these operations on May 5 when further troops arrived in the area.'"

Birth:
The birth of Robert Fachiri was registered Jul-Aug-Sep, 1919, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, Volume 8b, Page 363. Mother's Maiden Name: Spartall.

Died:
His obituary, detailing his military service, appeared in The Telegraph on-line, 4 Apr. 2012.

Buried:
Funeral: Church of the Good Shepherd, Heswall, 26 Mar 2012, 11.00 a.m.

Robert married Frances E. Lord in 1939 in Chester, Cheshire, England UK. Frances was born about 1918 in [England, UK]; died in aut 1948 in Chester, Cheshire, England UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died:
The death of Frances E. Fachiri, 30 [b. abt 1918] was registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1948, Wirral, Cheshire, v 10a, p 738.

Notes:

Married:
The marriage of Robert Fachiri and Frances E Lord was registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1939, Wirral, Cheshire, v 8a, p 1747.