www.fromesfallenheroes.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

BURGESS Alec Arthur
Aircraftman 2nd Class 1156188 600 Squadron Royal Air Force
Killed 13th September 1940. Age 18
Buried at Frome (Vallis Road) Cemetery. Grave Ref: Sec. D. Grave 101
Memorials: MH

Born at 8, Castle Street, Frome and was the only son of Mr and Mrs Arthur H. Burgess of the same address. He was educated at Sun Street Council School, and worked as an apprentice at the foundry of Butler and Tanner Printers of Frome. Alec Joined the R.A.F on June 13th 1940, as member of the ground staff. 600 Squadron was a Bristol Beau fighter 1F Squadron based at Redhill, Surrey.

Friday September 13th 1940, he died in hospital in the southeast from injuries received as a result of an enemy air attack, during the Battle of Britain. Alec was a member of the Sun Street Methodist church, and attended the Sunday school. His interests included walking and cycling. A close friend remembers, "He used to walk to Great Elm on a Saturday night, go to a pub and have a pint, and walk back to Frome and go to second house pictures (cinema).

He had a bike and did a lot of cycling; there wasn't a lot to do in the 1930s, what with unemployment and poverty. Alec was a very nice chap, quiet, very quiet, and not very noisy, went to work, did his job, and came home. I remember him being killed, on the airfield at R.A.F Hornechurch, believed to be during a bomb attack, the time when the Luftwaffe was raiding airfields. The photo was taken a couple of days before he died. Both his parents had cancer and died after he was killed, perhaps from the terrible shock of it".

I have now written "Frome's Fallen Heroes World War Two, I started the project in 2000 and have now completed it. If you want a copy, it will be selling for £10, plus £2.95 P&P, Free local delivery. Tel 01373 301929, or find it on ebay.

http://www.cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190263293397&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT

Opposite is Alec Burgess, one of the 131 casualties from Frome. There is also the story of H.M.S Thetis/Thunderbolt, the submarine adopted by Frome during the Second World War and it's tragic life. I have listed all the men who perished, in some cases next of kin and address. Keith McCarthy is also in the book, Keith was killed in action during the Falklands War.