Blue plaque is unveiled in the High Street for Major General
GUERNSEY’S 12th blue plaque has been unveiled in High Street.
Major General Sir Donald Banks was born in Guernsey in 1891 and grew up living above his father’s bookshop at 43, High Street, where the plaque has been installed.
After being educated at Elizabeth College, Banks left the island in 1909, joined the British civil service, and went on to become a hero of the First World War.
He rose from the rank of Private in the London Yeomanry to Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 10th Essex Regiment.
He was awarded the Military Cross, Distinguished Service Order, Croix de Guerre and was mentioned in dispatches twice.
On returning to the civil service after the war, he joined the General Post Office, where he was appointed its first director-general.
From there he was transferred to the Air Ministry, where he was responsible for the rearmament of the RAF during the build-up to the Second World War.
During that war, he was invited by Churchill to establish the Petroleum Warfare Department, which was responsible for numerous innovations, including techniques for fog dispersal at airfields and a fuel pipeline under the English Channel to provide petrol to the liberating forces as they swept across Europe, known as Pluto. It was heralded by General Dwight Eisenhower as ‘second in daring only to the artificial Mulberry harbours’ among the innovations developed for D-Day.
He was awarded the US Presidential Legion of Honour for his achievements.
‘It’s wonderful to see this Blue Plaque being unveiled to such a well-deserved and devoted Guernseyman,’ said Guernsey Society vice chairman Steve Foote.
‘Although he never returned to live in his native island, his love of Guernsey and the wellbeing of the islanders was never far from his mind. In particular his efforts during World War 2, when he formed the Guernsey Society to keep the plight of the islanders at the forefront of the British Government’s plans.’
The plaque was unveiled by the Bailiff, Richard McMahon with a guard of honour provided by the 10th Essex Living History Group, who model themselves on Banks’ WWI regiment, and the Elizabeth College Combined Cadet Force.
It was initially supposed to be unveiled 13 years ago for the 70th anniversary of the Liberation and another planned ceremony in 2020 was also delayed due to Covid.
A crowd of around 50 islanders were in attendance and the rainy weather stopped in a timely manner as the service commenced.
Among those was Mr Banks’ daughter Dawn Smith.
‘I was going to get here when it happens even if you have to carry me on a stretcher,’ she told the gathering.
The blue plaque scheme was launched in 2008 and recognises Guernsey people who have made an important contribution to the Bailiwick and the wider world.
‘It’s wonderful to be able to recognise someone who did so much for the island and remember parts of our history,’ said Helen Glencross, head of heritage services and member of the blue plaques panel.
