17th June 1940
General de Gaulle has lunch in Jersey while fleeing France
French statesman Charles de Gaulle spent the Second World War in Britain, from where he directed resistance fighters in his homeland. Understanding his importance, the RAF evacuated him from France on 17 June 1940, flying via Jersey where they stopped to refuel the de Havilland Dragon Rapide DH.89 that was carrying him. This allowed the General to get out, stretch his legs and eat lunch before continuing to the mainland and putting down at Heston, just outside London.
Other events tagged war
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Other events that occured in June
Holiday pioneer Billy Butlin dies in Jersey
- Billy Butlin’s name will forever be tied to a certain type of British holiday. He moved to Jersey later in life, where he died.
- Read more…
Princess Elizabeth visits Jersey
- Princess Elizabeth, who would later become Queen Elizabeth II, visited Jersey on 22 June 1949 as part of a wider trip to the Channel Islands.
- Read more…
The king and queen’s liberation visit
- The King and Queen should have visited the Channel Islands on 6 June 1945, which Jersey had declared a public holiday.
- Read more…
A flotilla of Jersey boats sets sail for Dunkirk
- Volunteers from the St Helier Yacht Club set sail for Dunkirk in June 1940 to help with the rescue of Alied soldiers.
- Read more…
