Little ships gather ahead of Dunkirk commemoration

Dozens of little ships have gathered in a Kent harbour for an event marking the 85th anniversary of one of the most important episodes of World War Two.

A total of 66 boats from across Europe will set off from Ramsgate on Wednesday morning for Dunkirk as part of the commemorations of Operation Dynamo.

More than 338,000 soldiers were rescued from the French coast between 26 May and 4 June 1940 with almost 100,000 troops picked up off from the beaches by the little ships and ferried to larger vessels.

A spokesperson for the organiser, The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, (ADLS), said the Ramsgate gathering was "a chance for the public to view the fleet, speak to the owners and learn about their vessels".

In May 1940 the call went out for the owners of pleasure craft to join the effort led by the Royal Navy to help bring soldiers back to Kent by donating their ships.

The allied forces had been driven into a small pocket around Dunkirk by the advancing German army.

Without a swift evacuation they faced capture or death.

Matt Cain now owns Lady of Mann, one of the little ships that was part of the operation that rescued his grandfather, George.

He said: "My grandfather used to talk to me about Dunkirk a lot.

"It was always a huge ambition to be able to do this."

The journey to Dunkirk is expected to take around 10 hours.

Bryan Cox will be sailing in Bou Saada, which is now owned by the ice skater Jayne Torvill.

He said: "For me it's about the sacrifice which a lot of people made.

"Even with the little ships, 200 of the 800 that went across didn't survive.

"It's like a pilgrimage, really."

Ramsgate Lifeboat will also be part of Wednesday's fleet.

Ian Cannon, its coxswain, has family links to the events of 1940.

"My great, great, great uncle Alf was second coxon when the call came in for Dunkirk," he said.

"My father, brother, myself and now my children have all been involved with the Ramsgate crew."

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