Former French president Charles de Gaulle lived in Petts Wood during the Second World War as he led the French resistance.
Born in 1890, de Gaulle fought with distinction in the First World War, being wounded three times and eventually taken prisoner by the Germans.
After the fall of France in the Second World War, De Gaulle escaped to London and took up residence in Petts Wood. He inspired the freedom fighters in France via radio broadcasts from London, calling on them to continue fighting the Germans.
Called to form a government in 1958, de Gaulle inspired a new constitution and he was the fifth republic of France's first president from 1959 to 1969.
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