Help with QM Henri Le Garrec

AlexBC · 8 August 2005, 10:22 AM

Can anyone provide any more information on QM Henri Le Garrec?

This is my first post on this very interesting website. With a general interest in WW1 aviation, I am carrying out a search on behalf of some French (non-English speaking) friends of mine. They are currently researching their family tree and have retraced one of their ancestors as being QM Henri Le Garrec.
A previous thread on him occurred in late 2001 (18/11/01). My friends have some information on him that would have shed some light at the time of that thread.
Henri Le Garrec was a French naval pilot (with the Centre d'Aviation Marine-CAM) detached (?) to the RNAS. He flew Sopwith Triplanes. He was decorated with a Distinguished Conduct Medal for having shot down a German bomber over the North Sea off he coast of Dixmude (apparently a picture of him with decorations exists-annotated by his hand on the reverse, although I have yet to see it).
He was later shot down on 3rd September 1917 whilst at the controls of Triplane N5388 (S.15). His wingman, a Slt. Delesalle, reported having seen, from a distance, an Albatros give chase to Le Garrec whose plane then entered a steady shallow dive. Delesalle tried engaging the Albatros but his guns jammed and he broke off. As a result, he lost sight of Le Garrec's plane and no trace was ever found again of either Le Garrec or his plane. Apparently French naval military records shed no light either.
Did he come down in no man's land or behind enemy lines? Was he buried behind German lines? Did anyone else witness his being shot down?
Any further info would be greatly appreciated as I have none in the few books I have access to at home. Even if no one has any information could anybody please suggest a further line of investigation as I am not a pro at this kind of research.
Thanks to you all,
Alex

MikeW · 8 August 2005, 11:11 AM

Alex,

according to my information Le Garrec won both the British Distinguished Conduct Medal and the French Croix De Guerre.

You are correct that he flew for the French Navy at Dunkerque (le Centre d'Aviation Maritime) though he had nothing to do with the RNAS. Whilst with the CAM, he flew Sopwith Triplanes and Nieuport 17s.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal appears to have been awarded when he came to the rescue of some RNAS machines that were being attacked and drove off their attackers.

He was shot down on 3rd September 17, whilst flying Triplane N5388, F15 - Not S15. There is a photograph of the crashed machine - probably not something that relatives might want to see. The wreckage does not look like the culmination of a long shallow dive! He fell to the east of Dixmude and was believed shot down by Ltn Hammes of Jasta 35.

By the way, I doubt that SLt Delasalle was his wingmam, more likely the other way round, Delasalle commanded the Escadrille from the 4th September!

Here is the photograph of Henri proudly showing off his medals:

MikeW · 8 August 2005, 11:16 AM

Alex,

sorry, should have added that you will find the book "L'Aviation Maritime Francaise Pendand La Grand Guerre" published by Ardhan, isbn 2-913344-00-3 invaluable.

I am also preparing an article on the French Sopwith Triplanes for publication in Cross & Cockade international, but there is no telling when that would appear in print.

Mike

AlexBC · 8 August 2005, 12:53 PM

Mike,

Thanks for such a complete response. I'll pass it on as planned but any heads up on what would have happened at the time to the pilot? My friends seem pretty keen on tracking down a place of burial, memorial, Church plaque or other. How would troops, authorities have dealt with fallen airmen at the time? I'm going on the assumption that if a picture was taken of the crash site then something must have happened to the pilot's remains. And as I am absolutely clueless in these matters of military organisation/logistics....

Alex

MikeW · 8 August 2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

but any heads up on what would have happened at the time to the pilot

I'm sure the Germans would have probably buried him in a suitable military cemetary and identified the grave. I'm afraid I don't know what happened to French war graves, if there is a French equivalent to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that would be a good starting point.

Perhaps contacting ARDHAN might be a better start? The more I think about it, I'm sure that would be the best course.

ARDHAN

I would appreciate being kept informed if any more is information about Henri is uncovered.

Rgds

Mike