Robert A. Hecox ("Bob")

In March 1947 Bob Hecox of British Paramount News provided film of the bombing of the officers’ club in Jerusalem, which, according to his dopesheet, he reached ‘ten minutes after the explosion, before the bulk of the military arrived.' The material appeared in ‘TERROR STALKS PALESTINE’ in No.1671. Hecox also provided footage from Saudi Arabia for ‘IBN SAUD TOURS ARABIAN-US OILFIELDS’ in No.1673, and in March 1947 he worked in Jerusalem with Ben Oyserman [qv], filming ‘HOLY LAND REMEMBERS FIRST EASTER’ for British Paramount News No.1680 of April 1947. In the same issue appeared Hecox’s report of ‘HAIFA OIL BOMBED,' which he filmed ‘after having received a tip that the explosion and resulting fire had taken place.' Hecox provided other stories from Palestine, including ‘PALESTINE TURNS BACK IMMIGRANTS’ in No.1711 of July 1947. However, by August 1947 he was in India, working with Ved Parkash [qv] on ‘PAKISTAN PREPARES’ in No.1717. Hecox may have been working for the American Paramount News by this date, as he submitted his film with one of their dopesheets, and carefully distinguished himself from Parkash whom he noted was ‘connected with BRITISH PARAMOUNT.' British Paramount News was still receiving material from Hecox - this time in Germany - in 1953.

Sources

BUFVC, British Paramount News files, Issue Number 1671 (Hecox’s dopesheets, 1/2 March 1947), Number 1673 (Hecox’s shotlist, 13/2/1947), Number 1680 (Hecox’s dopesheets, 31/3/1947), Number 1711 (Hecox dopesheet, 22/7/1947), dopesheets BPN 1714 and BPN 1717, Number 2287 (Hecox dopesheet, 25/1/1953), Number 2293 (Hecox dopesheet, 16/2/1953).