Royal Navy warships have escorted a flotilla of the legendary ‘Little Ships of Dunkirk’ across the English Channel for the anniversary of the great World War Two evacuation.
Eighty-five years ago – between 26 May and 4 June 1940 – about 850 private boats of all shapes and sizes sailed from UK shores through heavy enemy fire on a rescue mission to save Allied troops stranded on the beaches and harbour at Dunkirk as the Nazis swept through France.
Re-enacting the heroic Operation Dynamo voyage, which saw more than 338,000 soldiers rescued to fight another day, is a flotilla of 66 little ships which left Ramsgate Royal Harbour at 6am today and are expected arrive late afternoon in Dunkirk.
These iconic ships have been escorted to the French port by seven Royal Navy patrol vessels, as well as RNLI lifeboats, accompanied by scores of spectator craft.
Making the commemorations even more poignant was the death of the last naval known veteran of Dunkirk – telegraphist Duncan McInnes, who died at the age of 105 last week in Australia just days before the 85th anniversary.
Duncan served on Admiralty S-class destroyer, HMS Saladin, during Operation Dynamo and the little ships lowered their ensigns to half-mast on Monday to mark his passing.
“This will be the first time when we’ve gone over when there are no veterans,” said Ian Gilbert, Honorary Vice Admiral, Association of Dunkirk Little Ships. “The little ships are the veterans because the living link has now gone, and we have to keep these boats alive to keep the memory alive.”
Commemorative events started on May 20, with seven P2000 patrol craft of the Royal Navy’s Coastal Forces Squadron arriving in Ramsgate, joining the flotilla of little ships.
Twenty-one personnel from Victory Squadron at HMS Collingwood are also involved, embarking in the little ships for the crossing.
Musicians of the Royal Marines Band from Portsmouth paraded in Ramsgate as His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, Commodore-in-Chief of the Maritime Reserves, took the salute and unveiled a statue that commemorates the events on Dunkirk.
Coastal Forces Squadron Commanding Officer, Commander Carla Higgins, said:
“It is hugely important to continue to commemorate such events in our history and highlighting the role such little ships had to play in Operation Dynamo.
“Coastal Forces Squadron is very proud to be a part of this event, particularly since it has been ten years since the last commemoration of this scale. It will be quite a spectacle to see so many paying their respects across the Channel.”
Once in Dunkirk, commemorative events will take place until 26 May.
