Situated just 12 miles from the French coast and over 80 miles South  of England, the island of Jersey was always likely to be invaded  during World War 2 as soon as the Germans had occupied Normandy. The Jersey Rotary Club in the Channel Isles was started in 1924 and met regularly till the outbreak of World War 2 in September 1939.

Anticipating an invasion, the last AGM, held on May 30 1940, did not nominate any representatives to the District Council to be held on the mainland. The meeting ended with a toast to "Our Fighting Forces".

Some members decided to leave the following day including the President, a teacher at Victoria College who left in order to look after boys who had been evacuated already.

On July 1, the Germans invaded and the Nazis took control. The club continued to meet until February 21 1941 when Field Commander von Stein issued an order to the Bailiff of Jersey saying that the "Order concerning the Prohibition of Societies applies to Rotary as well. Further activity must cease."

Unofficial meetings were held in secret so that the spirit of Rotary was never crushed. On May 8, 1945 the Union Jack and Jersey flag again floated over the Royal Court and the States Building. Within a few days, the Jersey Rotary Club resumed meeting at the Halkett Hotel although 'lunch' consisted of a cup of coffee with members bringing their own 'eats'. As one member wrote "most of us brought a couple of Red Cross biscuits and for once they tasted good in such company and FREE."

researched by Senior RGHF Historian Basil Lewis, U.K. February 2009