10th July 1970
French prime minister disappears on Jersey boat trip
Elected prime minister in 1957, one day after his 38th birthday, Felix Gaillard had been the youngest head of the French government since Napoleon. His term lasted just over six months when he was brought down by a vote of no confidence in the French National Assembly.
However, Gaillard, who had been in the Resistance during the Second World War, was not one to disappear quietly. In 1958 he became president of the Radical Party, which was perhaps not quite as radical as its name might have suggested, since he wanted the French centrist parties to work together.
Fateful trip to Jersey
On 9 July 1970, he boarded his yacht, the Marie Grillon, with two women. They headed for Jersey where he was due to meet his sister, but there’s some confusion in the papers over what happened next. Some quote his sister in law saying that he never arrived, while others claim that he had radioed his wife in Brittany to say that he was ready to set off for the return trip.
Either way, the yacht disappeared and, the following day, was discovered, wrecked on the Minquiers reef. Although his body was not among the wreckage, the two female passengers were found there, dead but wearing life jackets. Gaillard himself was discovered on 11 July, along with another passenger, floating in the Channel, suggesting that he’d picked up a third passenger somewhere.
It was later determined that the boat had exploded, and Gaillard had drowned. He had been 50 years old.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in July
Jersey Post International is founded
- Jersey Post was established in 1969 when the Crown dependencies were authorised to set up their own postal services.
- Read more…
French prime minister disappears on Jersey boat trip
- A yacht carrying the former prime minister of France disappeared and was later discovered wrecked on a reef close to Jersey.
- Read more…
Courts declare widow mentally competent
- Fanny Radmall inherited a huge fortune but the Jersey courts were asked to rule on whether she was competent to manage it.
- Read more…
Jersey bailiff who helped organise the St Malo evacuation is born
- Sir Robert Hugh Le Masurier was born in Jersey and would rise to become one of the island’s youngest ever bailiffs.
- Read more…