Captain Robert (Andrew) Fachiri, MC

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:

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

1. Living
2. Living

Robert married Mary Thompson (Charles) Beardmore in su 1949 in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, North-West England UK. Mary (daughter of Charles Edward. Beardmore and Irene Louise (John) Clegg) was born on 16 Jan 1919 in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, North-West England UK; died about May 2005 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The marriage of Robert Fachin (sic) and Mary T Beardmore was registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1949, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, v. 10b, p. 426.

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living

Notes:

Occuption: cotton merchant

UK Naturalisation: Andrew Pandelli Fachiri, Greece, 9 May 1900; residence Liverpool; home office paper B31930; certificate A11487. (16 May 1900 according to London Gazette 1 Jun 1900).

Nicholas Andrew Fachiri, Pandelli Andrew Fachiri, Eustratius Andrew Fachiri, and Andrew Pandelli Fachiri were partners in Fachiri Brothers, Cotton Merchants, Liverpool and P. Fachiri and Co., in New York, until the companies were dissolved 15 Apr 1902.

Residence, Liverpool, England: 1900, Dunmore, Livingstone Drive; 1919, 16 Linnet Lane; at DOD Homecroft Nursing Home, 4 Knowsley Road, Rock Ferry, Cheshire, England.

Liverpool funerals attended by Andrew Fachiri: Sep 1897 Ambrose Anthony Vlasto as A. Fachiri; Feb 1908, Constantine Paul Negroponte; 1910, Constantine Ralli; Feb 1917, Mrs. Constantine M. Ralli as A. Fachiri; 1921, Mrs. D. A. Galatti.

Andrew Fachiri, 16 Linnet Lane, is on the 1919 Electoral List for Liverpool, England.

The 1870 US federal census for the household at 25 West 49th Street, New York, New York headed by Pandella [Pandelli] Fachiri, 30, banker [broker], b. Germany [Greece]; Mary, 22, b. Greece; Andrew, 1, b. New York; Theodore, 29; Ambrose, 23, both b. Greece.

1891 England census: 24 Brompton Avenue, Liverpool: Cleopatra Fachiri, wife, 47, property owner, b. Marseille; daughters Despina, 26, b. London; Hypatia, 25, b. Liverpool; nephews Andrew, 21 and Antoine, 19, both b. New York; daughter Marietta, 14, b. Liverpool; & 2 servants.

The 1901 England census reports that Andrew Fachiri, 31, cotton merchant, born USA, naturalized British subject and his wife Alexandra, 24, born in France, French subject, lived at 16 Linnet Lane, Sefton Park, Liverpool, with two servants. His in-laws lived at 20 Linnet Lane.

1911 England census for 16 Linnet Lane, Liverpool, household headed by Andrew Fachiri, 41, married 10 years, 3 children, 3 living, b. USA, cotton broker, naturalized Brit; wife Alexandra, 34, b. France; daughter Marie, 9; sons George, 8, both b. Liverpool, Lancashire; Paul, 7, b. Frodsham, Cheshire; 4 servants.

The 1939 England and Wales Register for the address 7 Dibbins Hey, Bebington, Cheshire lists Andrew Fachiri, b. 9 Mar 1870, Cotton Broker; and wife Alexandra Fachiri, b. 27 Feb 1877, Unpaid Domestic Duties.

Liverpool Electoral Registers, 1904-1905: Andrew Fachira, 18 Chapel Street (counting house); 1904-1905, 1909-1910, 1914-1915: Andrew Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane, Sefton Park (abode); 1920: Andrew Fachiri and Alexandra Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane (house); 1925: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri (abode); 1925: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, 10 (78) Old Hall Street, Vauxhall; 1929-1930: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri, Marie Fachiri, Paul Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane; 1934-1935: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri, Sonia Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane.

Liverpool Electoral Registers, 1904-1905: Andrew Fachira, 18 Chapel Street (counting house); 1904-1905, 1909-1910, 1914-1915: Andrew Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane, Sefton Park (abode); 1920: Andrew Fachiri and Alexandra Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane (house); 1925: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri (abode); 1925: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, 10 (78) Old Hall Street, Vauxhall; 1929-1930: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri, Marie Fachiri, Paul Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane; 1934-1935: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri, Sonia Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane.

Name:
Note namesake: Alexander Pandely Fachiri (1887 New York - 1939 London), son of Pandely (Hypatios) Fachiri (1838-1903) &
Chariklea 'Harriet' (Eustratius) Ralli (1847-1927), husband of Adela Adrienne (Aramis) d'Aranyi (1886 Budapest - 1962 Florence).

Died:
The death of Andrew P Fachiri, 79 [b. abt 1870], was registered Oct-Nov-Dec 1949, Birkenhead, Cheshire, v 10a, p 41.

DOD from probate

Andrew married Alexandra (Sophocles) Spartali on 16 Jun 1900 in Greek Church of St Nicholas, Liverpool, Lancashire, England UK. Alexandra (daughter of Sophocles (Nicholas) Spartali and Marigo (Antonio) Ralli) was born on 27 Feb 1877 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France; died on 03 Jan 1940 in Chester, Cheshire, England UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Residence: at DOD 7 Dibbins Hey Spital, Cheshire

1911 England census for 16 Linnet Lane, Liverpool, household headed by Andrew Fachiri, 41, married 10 years, 3 children, 3 living, b. USA, cotton broker, naturalized Brit; wife Alexandra, 34, b. France; daughter Marie, 9; sons George, 8, both b. Liverpool, Lancashire; Paul, 7, b. Frodsham, Cheshire; 4 servants.

Liverpool Electoral Registers, 1920: Andrew Fachiri and Alexandra Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane (house); 1925: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri (abode); 1925: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, 10 (78) Old Hall Street, Vauxhall; 1929-1930: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri, Marie Fachiri, Paul Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane; 1934-1935: Andrew Fachiri, Alexandra Fachiri, George Fachiri, Sonia Fachiri, 16 Linnet lane.

The 1939 England and Wales Register for the address 7 Dibbins Hey, Bebington, Cheshire lists Andrew Fachiri, b. 9 Mar 1870, Cotton Broker; and wife Alexandra Fachiri, b. 27 Feb 1877, Unpaid Domestic Duties.

Birth:
Theano Catherine Alexandra Spartali on her birth certificate.

Died:
The death of Alexandra Fachiri, 64 [b. abt 1878], was registered Jan-Feb-Mar 1940, Wirral, Cheshire, v 8a, p 1406.

Her estate of £1223 15s. 2d. was administered by her husband.

Notes:

Married:
Andrew Fachiri and Alexandra Spartali registered their marriage Apr-May-Jun 1900, Toxteth Park, Lancashire, Volume 8b, Page 468.


Marriage Witnesses: N. A. Fachiri, M. A. Ralli, S. Spartali and P. A. Fachiri; Archimandrite Nikforos Zervos officiating.

Notes:

Occupation: Cotton broker.

Residence: 1870, Liverpool, England; 1877, Boulevard Longchamp 101, Marseille, France; 1900-DOD, 20 Linnet Lane, Liverpool.

The 1871 England Census records Sophocle Spartali, 30, general merchant, born Turkey and his wife Mary, 22, born Turkey, and son Nicola, 4 days old, born Liverpool, living at 177 Upper Parliament St., Liverpool, with four servants.

The 1881 England Census records Sophacles (sic) Spartali, 40, cotton broker, born Turkey and his wife Mary, 32, born Turkey, living at 200 Lodge Lane, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, with two servants.

The 1891 England Census records Sophocles Spartali, 57, cotton broker, and his wife Mary, 41, both born Turkey; son Nicholas, 20; Anthony, 18, both born Liverpool; and Alexandra, 14, born France, living at 20 Linnit Lane, Liverpool, with three servants.

The 1891 census: 20 Linnet Lane, Liverpool, England household headed by Sophocles Spartali, 51, cotton broker/agent; wife Mary, 41, both b. Turkey; sons Nicholas, 20, and Anthony, 18, both b. Liverpool; and daughter Alexandra, 14, scholars b. France & 3 servants.

The 1901 England census reports that Sophocles Spartali, 59, cotton broker, and his wife Mary, 51, both born Turkey, Greek subjects, lived at 20 Linnet Lane, Sefton Park, Liverpool with their sons Nicholas, 30, and Anthony, 28, both unmarried cotton brokers, born Liverpool, and three servants. His daughter and son-in-law lived at 16 Linnet Lane.

1911 England census: household at 20 Linnet Lane, Liverpool, headed by Sophocles Spartali, 68, b. Constantinople, married 40 years, 4 children, 2 still living, cotton broker; wife Mary, 61, b. Smyrna; son Anthony, 38, b. Liverpool, single, cotton broker's business, all Greek nationality; 4 servants.

Michael Antonio Ralli, Sophocles Spartali and Antonio Andrew Fachiri were partners in A. and M. Ralli, cotton brokers, Liverpool,until Antonio Andrew Fachiri retired from the firm, 1 Aug 1878.

Sophocles Spartali, Liverpool merchant, Fenwick Street, invested in the Bank of Alexandria (London Gazette, 27 Feb 1875, 28 Feb 1874, 27 Feb 1873).

The partnership between Sophocles Spartali and William Henry Hatch, carrying on business at Carlton buildings, Rumford St., Liverpool, as Cotton Brokers, "A. and M. Ralli," was dissolved from 31 December 1904. Sophocles Spartali continued the business (London Gazette 3 Jan 1905).

On 25 June 1891 Michael Antonio Ralli retired from the partnership in A. and M. Ralli, Cotton Brokers, Carlton buildings, 3, Rumford St, Liverpool, leaving Sophocles Spartali and William Henry Hatch to carry on in business (London Gazette, 30 Jun 1891).

7 Jul 1887 - Attended the service at the Greek Orthodox Church in Prince's Road, Liverpool in honour of the visit of Prince Constantine of Greece.

8 Jul 1887 - Present at a dinner party hosted by Mr M.A. Ralli at his house in Aigburth Drive, Sefton Park in honour of HRH Prince Constantine of Greece.

S. Spartali attended the Feb 1908 funeral of Constantine Paul Negroponte.

S. Spartali attended the Sep 1897 Liverpool funeral of Ambrose Anthony Vlasto (Liverpool Mercury, 28 Sep 1897).

John J. Negroponte (£15), P.P. Negroponte (£5), C.J. Negroponte (£5), Sophocles Spartali (£5), A.S. Agelasto (£5), C.T. Rodocanachi (£15), were among contributors to the Cephalonia Relief Fund (Liverpool Mercury 26 Mar 1867).

Birth:
Date of birth, according to Marseille marriage certificate. Argenti says 14 Jan 1842.

Died:
Estate of £22,239 administered Liverpool 29 Jan 1915 by Anthony Spartali, cotton broker.

Buried:
Section O, plot 754

Sophocles married Marigo (Antonio) Ralli in 21Jun 1870 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France. Marigo (daughter of Antonio (Michalis) Ralli and Theano (Paul) Mavrogordato) was born on 25 Sep 1848 in Smyrna/Izmir, Turkey; died on 22 Feb 1929 in 1 Gambier Terrace, Liverpool, Lancashire, England UK; was buried on 25 Feb 1929 in Smithdown Road Cemetery, Toxteth Park, Liverpool, Lancashire, England UK. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

1911 England census: household at 20 Linnet Lane, Liverpool, headed by Sophocles Spartali, 68, b. Constantinople, married 40 years, 4 children, 2 still living, cotton broker; wife Mary, 61, b. Smyrna; son Anthony, 38, b. Liverpool, single, cotton broker's business, all Greek nationality; 4 servants.

Buried:
Folio Entry C/N Section Grave Class
2136 42687 N O 754 352 CEM 9/2/8

Notes:

Married:
Date of marriage based on Marseille certificate; Ralli tree says 1869

Signatory witnesses to the marriage included Alexandre Avierino, 33, merchant, London; Alexandre Ralli, 44, merchant, bride's uncle, Boulevard Longchamp 103; Thesee Psicha, 36, merchant, Liverpool; and Michel Ralli, 26, merchant, bride's brother, Liverpool.

Notes:

Michael Spartali and Nicholas Spartali were partners in the firm Spartali and Company, Merchants, at London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Marseilles, prior to 3 Apr 1861 with partners Habib Giorgio Bustros, Habib Bustros, Fadlalla Bustros, Aburagi Bustros, and Selim Bustros (London Gazette 21 May 1861).

Nicholas married Catherine Kalaroni. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Residence: 1870, Boulevard Longchamp 103, Marseille, France.

Name:
Ecatterina Calaroni on her son's marriage certificate.

Notes:

Antonio Michael Raili was partners with Constantine Michael Ralli, Theodore Michael Ralli, Stephen Psicha, Theseus Psicha, George Psicha and Hector Psicha in Ralli and Psicha, Liverpool and as Antonio M. Ralli, General Merchants, Alexandria, Egypt when the latter two partners retired 8 May 1871 (London Gazette 27 Oct 1871). Stephen Psicha left the firm 31 Oct 1872 (London Gazette 25 Dec 1877).

He was a signatory witness to the marriage of George (Panteleon) Psikas and Zenovie (Michel) Salvago.

Residence: 1843-1859, Smyrna; 1863, London; 1869-70, Boulevard Longchamp 22, Marseille, France.

Birth:
Andrew Serjeant says 1816.

Antonio married Theano (Paul) Mavrogordato on 07 Feb 1843 in Alexandria, Egypt. Theano (daughter of Paul (Lucas) Mavrogordato and Franga (Dimitrios) Petrocochino) was born on 07 Jan 1826 in Malta; died on 14 Aug 1859 in Alexandria, Egypt. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

a.k.a. Theanore Mavrocordato, according to Richard Anthony Ralli

Died:
DOD 14 Aug 1869, according to Richard Anthony Ralli