Flight Lieutenant Marc Lagesse

Flight Lieutenant Marc Lagesse came from a wealthy family on the island of Mauritius, as the name suggest they were originally French and moved out here in 1767 when Antoine Lagesse was stationed here as a Bombardier in the Armoury. He suffered a serious illness and was invalided out with a pension of 600 French Pounds, with this he bought some land. His marriage to Marie Fleriot in 1774 resulted in seven children and the foundation of the Lagesse dynasty on the island. By the time he died in 1798 he has amassed a large estate which grew crops, had livestock and also distilled a cane liquor called Arrack.

Marc came to London to become a solicitor and succeeded in his quest before joining the RAF. He is buried in the Cambridge City Cemetery, along with hundreds of airmen, many from the colonies, whose bodies were never returned home.

 

He was a talented Navigator and here is one of his reports that were provided by the family and which I passed onto the International Bomber Command Centre which have added them to their archives.  

However his family did want to be able to honour him back in Mauritius so they had his name added to the family memorial. Here the Lagesse family pay their respects. 

 

In Spring 2018 Jacques Wiehe, a relative of Marc Lagesse donated £200 to the 'People's Mosquito Project',  The Godmanchester Stirling doubled this in memory of Squadron Leader Ronald Tong and Marc.