Frederick York Lesage

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Karen Alexander, great niece of Frederick Lesage

Fred Le Sage was my great uncle. The Le Sage’s were originally Huguenots who fled France to London, after religious persecution in the 16th and 17th century. Eventually they anglicised their name to Lesage but both name spellings appear interchangeably on different documents.

Fred was born in Lower Marsh, Lambeth to Joseph John Charles Le Sage and Margaret (née Sully) on the 15th February 1924. His father, Joseph, was a cooper.

L-R: Fred pictured pre-war; Out rowing. He is the one with the oars. Locations unknown.

 

He had an older sister Margaret, and two older brothers, Joseph and Ernest who both survived the war. Joseph was my grandfather and was in the Home Guard due to poor health [a genetic lung condition that I have inherited].

Fred Lesage, standing front row, left, with an oar, with members of his unit, location unknown

 

When the 1939 Register was taken they were living at 11 Lindsey Road, Barking and Dagenham. Fred was working as a Coopers Yard Boy.

Fred served with the 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, which was the machine gun battalion for the 43rd Wessex Division. He was killed on 11th July 1944, aged 20, as his battalion supported the attack on Hill 112. He died on the same day as 2 other members of his Battalion. He is buried in Secquville-en-Bessin war cemetery.