Louis de Bonnevie de Pogniat , French officer, born with Lyon on March 26th 1900, deceased with Marrakech on May 10th 1927.

Its life

Wire of Henri of Bonnevie of Pogniat and of Marie of Vergnette of Lamotte, Louis of Bonnevie made his studies with Lyon, with externat Saint-Joseph, directed by fathers Jesuits, of 1909 to 1916, then with Villa Midsummer's Day, directed by marianistes, with Freiburg (Swiss), it followed the courses in 1916-1917 when it became, with Marc Sabran and Charles Sallès, one of the best friends of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

He followed the courses of special mathematics, first of all with the College of the Park with Lyon, then with the school Holy-Genevieve with Versailles. In 1920, it received the diploma for the occupation of engineer ECAM of the central École, obtained the higher patent of military preparation for artillery and entered to the École of application of Fontainebleau. Lieutenant in 1925, having asked, on the council of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, an assignment with the Morocco, it is sent to Casablanca.

For its participation in the catch of the Djebel Hammam (May 24th, 1926) and in the operations of the task of Taza, (June 23rd - August 12th, 1926), it was quoted with the order of division and receipt the Military Cross of the TOE on September 27th, 1926.

Affected then, with its request, the 5th flotilla of the 37e regiment of aviation, it was, because of an epidemic of typhus, transferred to Marrakech where it died of this disease on May 10th, 1927, three years, day for day, after his father. The return of ashes took place the next month. It rests in the family vault with the cemetery of Aubiat.

Louis de Bonnevie and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

If their respective mothers and their sisters, Régine and Simone, were old friends, Louis and Antoine, of very different nature, appreciated itself rather little. Simone tells the first words which they exchange when, being close in Lyon, they are found with the return to school in 1916, with the Villa Midsummer's Day.

Hold, Bonvie, it is well you? What you insane here?

Ben, I make like you, I come to learn how to read and write.

Following a wrench, Antoine is immobilized and Louis much will deal with him. They become very friendly and will spend their holidays units, in Carnac and at Bonnevie with the castle of the Doors (Digs), where Antoine will become acquainted with their common cousins Jeanne and Bernardine (Dolly) of Menthon.

He will remember it then after death Louis

Your chart tenderized me. That memories! We are dispersed now like the children of Babel. and in my the Sahara I wonder whether it is well me which lived all that. Freiburg, snow (as that would make well here). Doors, Dolly of Menthon, Louis de Bonnevie. One believes me without heart because I do not express anything, but I will burst melancholy of the destroyed past, of all these last destroyed. Dakar, Port-Etienne, Cape Juby, Casablanca, the 3000 kilometers of coast do not have the density of 20 square meters in Freiburg or this living room of the Doors where I was persuaded to be in love with Dolly. - Letter in Simone . Juby, 1927 or 1928.

Louis, who also likes to write, will be the first reader of Antoine, when it begins the drafting of the Aviator .

My work is not too tedious and I have some projects in the train; I also work by small bits my novel which plunges Louis in admiration. - Letter with his/her mother . March 1924.

The Pleiad published a written letter in Paris in February 1918, in which Antoine tells the German bombardments on Paris. (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. complete Works . Volume I. Letter in Louis de Bonnevie . Paris, Saint-Louis College. February 1918).