Hero
Following D Day in 1944 the Oxford & Berks Light Infantry – including many men from Steventon – were slowly progressing through Normandy.
On 8th July there was an operation to reconnoitre a farm and as one section entered the orchard all hell broke loose. Fred Hastings, although injured, found cover behind a tree but others were not so lucky. Fred could hear groans and could see a soldier with a head injury. He managed to turn the man over to find it was his friend from Steventon George ‘cocker’ Fletcher. Despite his own injury he hauled Cocker to cover in a ditch, promising to return. Fred Hastings managed to get back to GHQ and found some stretcher bearers who went out but could not find the injured man. When they returned empty handed Fred then led them back into the orchard to rescue his mate.
Both men survived their injuries and the war and every time Fred went to the North Star, Cocker would buy his comrade a pint
