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.
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Other events that occured in June
Haut de la Garenne accepts its first boys
- The children’s home at Haut de la Garenne attracted unwelcome attention as the site of serious and sustained child abuse activities.
- Read more…
A passenger plane is written off at Jersey Airport
- The undercarriage of a Blue Islands plane collapsed at Jersey Airport when it put down at the end of an 11-minute flight from Guernsey.
- Read more…
Missing woman case’s happy ending… for some
- Elizabeth Price had been missing for nearly two weeks when the police found her in Lucy Biard’s St Helier home.
- Read more…
Queen Elizabeth II visits Jersey… again
- Queen Elizabeth II visited Jersey in 1978 and the Jersey Post Office produced a set of two stamps to celebrate.
- Read more…