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
Victoria College’s first headmaster is born
- William George Henderson was the first headmaster of Victoria College, having been ordained a priest in 1859.
- Read more…
Mormon pioneer Caroline LeSueur is born
- Caroline LeSueur (born Le Gresley) was a latecomer to Mormonism, but she embraced the religion wholeheartedly.
- 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…
Jersey man who made bread from air dies
- Jersey-born Robert Le Rossignol saved the world from starvation when he found a way to quickly make fertiliser.
- Read more…