C/C++ string memory allocation - c++

Question

I've just recently begun with C/C++ development on an embedded system (ARM - STM32F4 to be more specific) and I am now having almost classical problems of someone who isn't used to C or low level memory managment.
Basically I have a class MenuOption that inherits some field from some other class and basically looks like this:
...
char text[20];
...
void MenuOption::setText(const char* text1)
{
clearCurrent();
needsUpdate = true;
strncpy(text, text1, 20);
width = font->FontWidth*strlen(text);
}
The constructor for this class calls that setText method to store the text. This works fine if I use it like this inside a main function:
std::vector<MenuOption *> mainMenuOptions;
MenuOption* op1 = new MenuOption(13, 15, "Info", WHITE, BLACK);
op1->setSelected(true);
mainMenuOptions.push_back(op1);
But it fails when I want to use it like this:
std::vector<MenuOption *> options;
for (int i = 0; i < things.size(); i++)
{
Thing *th = things[i];
... do some stuff with th ...
MenuOption* op = new MenuOption(190, 38+25*i, "test", WHITE, BLACK);
options.push_back(op);
}
This fails (debugger sort of stalls) at the MenuOption* op ... line. Now I am guessing that this isn't something that I should be doing. But I can't seem to find a working solution.
EDIT:
To answer everyones questions. This does in fact compile with a C++ compiler. GCC using C++11 dialect.
There is a reason why I am using C strings instead of std::string. I am using a few C libraries that need C strings. And whenever I tried to convert that string into a C string inside a FreeRTOS task the thing would fail. The same problem as now actually.
No other breakpoint inside the task will trigger after it reaches that constructor line. I can't step in or skip a line or anything like that at that line. I have a feeling it gets caught by a hard_fault interrupt handler. Other tasks would continue to run. That's the problem. There are no errors or anything that would point me to the cause. The same problem was when I was using std::string when I tried to create a new MenuOption inside a FreeRTOS task. The thing works if I remove the string from the constructor. So I am guessing that it has something to do with strings.
As for string length. I know that strings used here will not be longer than 15 characters. I used those 5 characters for pure "backup"-
As for the ... do some stuff with th ... that was just this: th->flag = true;. I didn't do anything more with it because of this problem.

Answer 1

The tip posted in the comments by Étienne was actually what lead me to the answer. More specifically I found this: http://www.freertos.org/FreeRTOS_Support_Forum_Archive/October_2013/freertos_Using_C_std_vector_in_task_93928e86j.html
void *operator new(size_t size)
{
void *p;
if(uxTaskGetNumberOfTasks())
p=pvPortMalloc(size);
else
p=malloc(size);
return p;
}
void operator delete(void *p)
{
if(uxTaskGetNumberOfTasks())
vPortFree( p );
else
free( p );
p = NULL;
}