There are conflicting records as to this fireman's middle name, i.e. Roberto, Robert and Roberts. We have opted to use the more frequently recorded Roberto.
Cecil Roberto Andreazzi was born on 3 November 1909, in Southwark, the fourth of the seven children of Ercole Benvenuto Andreazzi (1877-1944) and Sarah Andreazzi née Preston (1878-1940). His birth was recorded as Cecil Roberto Andreazzi in the 4th quarter of 1909 in the Southwark registration district.
When his father completed the 1911 census he too listed his son as Cecil Roberto Andreazzi. He was living in a three roomed property at No 23, C Block, Peabody Square, Blackfriars Road, Southwark, with his parents and two surviving siblings: Alma Hilda Andreazzi (1900-2001) & Ferdinand Edward Andreazzi (1902-1983). An elder sister, Maria Louisa Andreazzi (1905-1909) had died in infancy. His father, who was a Swiss national from Dongio, Canton Ticini, Switzerland, described himself as a hotel lift attendant.
His remaining siblings were: Leslie George Andreazzi (1912-1932), Margaret Elsie Andreazzi (1914-2009) and Olive May Andreazzi (1917-1997).
Newington Workhouse, Westmoreland Road, (now Beaconsfield Road), Walworth, was an infirmary and their records show that as Cecil Andreazzi he was admitted on 12 December 1922 and discharged on the same day to the South Hospital. He was readmitted from the South Hospital on 3 January 1922 and discharged the same day into the care of his mother. The records show that his religion was given as a Methodist.
On 20 September 1930 he married Susannah Minnie Geary (1909-1997) at St Alphage's Church, King's Bench Street, Southwark and he is shown in the marriage banns register as Cecil Roberto Andreazzi. They had one daughter, Dolores T. Andreazzi, whose birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1933 in the Lambeth registration district. Electoral registers in 1932 list him as Cecil Roberto Andreazzi residing at 9 St Anns Road, Wandsworth, with his wife and in 1933 as Cecil Andreazzi living at 137 Blackfriars Road, with his wife and his father-in-law, Alfred Geary (1884-1950). Electoral registers show him as Cecil Roberto Andreazzi living at 4 St Ann's Road, Wandsworth in 1935 & 1936 with his wife and father-in-law, and all three are shown in 1937 & 1938 electoral registers at 4 Marcilly Road, Wandsworth. In the 1939 electoral registers only he and his wife are listed at 4 Marcilly Road, Wandsworth.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is shown as Cecil R. Andreazzi living at 4 Marcilly Road, Wandsworth with his wife and his brother-in-law, Robert Frederick Geary (1923-2004). His occupation was recorded as a waiter and also as a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service.
He died, aged 31 years, on 16 November 1940 as a result of enemy action whilst on duty as a Leading Fireman in the Auxiliary Fire Service at Wandsworth Fire Station, West Hill, Wandsworth and was buried in Streatham Cemetery, Garratt Lane, London SW17 0LT.
He is commemorated as Cecil Roberts Andreazzi in the Commonwealth War Graves Commissions's website and on the National Firefighters Memorial at Carter Lane, Peter's Hill, London, EC4V 5EY where, in their Book of Remembrance, he is shown as Cecil Robert Andreazzi.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
