Pte. Frederick George Loosemore Hecks 5735571 Dorsetshire Regiment
Died August 2nd 1942
Fred appears on Bridport War Memorial because he was a serving member of the ‘Dorsets’, when he came home on leave in August 1942, only to be killed in the August bombing of his hometown. At the time of the raid, Frederick’s father, John Hembrow Hecks was the licensee of the Star Hotel in West Street and his family lived on the premises.
Fred was born in 1908 to John and Martha Beatrice, nee Loosemore and at that time the family lived at Kingsdon Farm, Netherbury. He had an older sister, Martha Vera, and the family was helped by Eva Buckler who worked as a domestic servant in the house.
By the time the 1939 Register was taken, the family had moved into Bridport and taken over the Star Hotel. Martha had married Leslie Frampton in April 1931 and had her own home, but Fred still lived at the Star although he didn’t work in the business – he was employed as a butcher’s slaughterman.
With the advent of war, Fred joined up and served with the Dorsetshire Regiment, but was back in Bridport on leave for the August Bank Holiday, when the first bombs dropped on the town.
There are several eye-witness accounts:
Tony Tiltman
“… I was there outside the old Post Office when the plane came, when the bomb was dropped. And I dived … and I knew the plane because I was in the ATC at the time and I knew the plane, so I dived under the seat that was outside the old Post Office.
And the glass from Frost’s window came across and splattered the chair and the wall. And I saw two people killed. The soldier that was on leave, staying at the ‘Star’ – the son. The ‘Star’ I think it was. And he was blown across the other side of the road and was killed by the blast, underneath what was Gales Hairdressers.”
Florrie Tattershall
“I was going to marry George Hecks. … We were on our way down to meet him…
…I was told it was The Star and I asked Ralph Gillingham who was the Police Sergeant ‘What about George?’ and he said, “If I were you, I should go home, and I’ll come and see you later.”
According to a friend, George dashed out to see what was happening and he was blown right across the road.”
The bomb dropped behind the row of shops on the south side of West street and the blast traveled through the buildings and blew out all the windows along the street here, as well as in South Street. The façade of the Star was completely demolished.