1. The islands had been deemed not defendable by the British in 1940. Some civilians were given the chance to evacuate to England but around 66,000 residents and some civil servants stayed.
2. Jersey and Guernsey are Crown Dependencies and are not part of the United Kingdom or EU…
3. …but they are within the EU Customs Union.
4. Until the 13th century, the Channel Islands were part of the Duchy of Normandy which was then under English rule.
5. Guernsey (including Alderney, Sark and some uninhabited islets) and Jersey (including other islets) are Bailiwicks, technically run by a bailiff.
6. The word ‘jersey’ for a pullover, comes from Jersey worsted, the knitted wool of Jersey cows.
7. Jersey and Guernsey both have teams in the Commonwealth Games despite not being full members of the Commonwealth.
8. Colin Mallett of Jersey won gold for full-bore shooting at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.
9. It is illegal for men to knit during the day in summer months in the Channel Islands.
10. This was a 17th century law to stop fishermen neglecting their duties and knitting instead.
