1st August 1939
The telephone line between Jersey and the mainland is inaugurated
Jersey was connected to the mainland by a very circuitous route at the beginning of August 1939 when the Postmaster-General, Major GC Tryon, placed a call from a London post office to the Lieutenant-Governor and Bailiff in Jersey.
The Times explained that, before reaching the co-axial cable that had been laid across the seabed, the call first had to travel from the capital to Compass Cove, near Dartmouth, but the achievement was sufficient to gain national press coverage, and generate excitement about what it might lead to.
Although the cable was at the time carrying just one call, when fully exploited it would allow 12 simultaneous Jersey to mainland calls, four between Guernsey and the mainland, and five between Jersey and Guernsey.
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Other events that occured in August
Boy falls into Jersey Zoo gorilla enclosure
- Jambo, a 25 stone gorilla, protected a five year old boy who had fallen into his enclosure from the other apes.
- Read more…
Jersey fugitive kills a man
- A man and his wife killed their dinner guest and buried his remains under the kitchen floor, before the husband fled to Jersey.
- Read more…
Bailiff Philippe de Carteret II dies
- Philippe de Carteret II was the third Seigneur of Sark and from 1627 until his death was also Bailiff of Jersey.
- Read more…
Jersey-set film The Others is released
- Starring Nicole Kidman and directed by Alejandro Amenábar, The Others is a psychological horror film set in Jersey.
- Read more…
