Little ships set sail for Dunkirk commemoration

A fleet of 66 'little ships' is sailing from Ramsgate to Dunkirk in France to commemorate the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.

From 26 May to 4 June 1940, about 1,000 vessels sailed through heavy enemy fire to rescue more than 338,000 British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk.

Organisers, The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships (ADLS), said the commemorative journey would "serve as a poignant tribute to the bravery and sacrifice" of those who took part.

"It also ensures the legacy of the Dunkirk little ships continues to inspire future generations," a spokesperson said.

The little ships set sail from Ramsgate Royal Harbour at 06:00 BST on Wednesday and were expected to arrive in Dunkirk at 16:00, depending on the weather and sea conditions.

The organisation, set up in 1966 to preserve the vessels, added this was the first time they have made the crossing since 2015.

The ADLS organises a crossing every five years, but the expedition was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The ships will be escorted by the Royal Navy and the RNLI, with a spectator fleet of modern craft present in Ramsgate and Dunkirk.

The little ships made their first return to the French port in 1965. The idea came from former Second World War Spitfire pilot, Raymond Baxter OBE, who later became a presenter for BBC's Tomorrow's World programme.

Chris Bannister, who owns a boat that was used as a tug during the Dunkirk evacuation, said: "If we don't carry out the commemoration like we are today, then the people who have sacrificed their lives many years ago, the memory of them, will stop.

"It's very important that we appreciate where we've come from and how lucky we are to be where we are today."

Jennifer Gold, whose father was rescued from Dunkirk, came to Ramsgate from Sidmouth, in Devon, to see the boats set sail.

"Can you imagine what it was like being bombed and have the aeroplanes going over shattering bullets at you? And it was cold and it was frightening," she said.

Dubbed the "Miracle of Dunkirk" by wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the evacuation is seen as one of the outstanding moments of fortitude and perseverance during the Second World War.

The rescue was overseen by Admiral Bertram Ramsay, who also played a pivotal role in masterminding the Normandy Landings in 1944.

The operation has also inspired films, and Christopher Nolan's 2017 Dunkirk featured several original little ships, and their owners and crew members made guest appearances.

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