On the morning of Sunday 24 May mayors of the Cinque Port towns joined the parade and church service in Ramsgate marking the 86th anniversary of ‘Operation Dynamo’, also known as “The Miracle of Dunkirk”. Those who attended had the opportunity to recognise the courage and resilience shown during one of the defining moments of the Second World War when more than 338,000 British and French troops were rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940.
Rye’s mayor, the Right Worshipful Councillor Chris Hoggart, and his wife Kathy represented Rye. Twenty-five of the Dunkirk “Little Ships” were moored in the Royal Harbour, and a new installation – “338: Ramsgate Remembers” – presented 338 life-sized silhouettes, each representing a thousand soldiers rescued from Dunkirk.
Chris commented, “It was a great honour to be present at such an important anniversary celebration. ‘Operation Dynamo’ was a pivotal undertaking in World War 2. More than 800 ships, including some from Rye, set sail to evacuate the surrounded troops before they could be overrun by the Nazi war machine. The operation is rightly remembered as a fantastic example of what can be achieved when ordinary people band together and refuse to give in.”
Thousands gathered around Ramsgate Royal Harbour to witness the moving programme of remembrance and celebration centred on the famous Dunkirk ‘Little Ships’. More than twenty-five of the historic vessels lined the harbour, their presence serving as a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice and community spirit that defined one of the most remarkable operations of the Second World War.
Ramsgate played a vital role in ‘Operation Dynamo’ in May and June 1940, countless servicemen arriving exhausted and wounded at the harbour after crossing the Channel from Dunkirk. Many of the ‘Little Ships’, privately owned boats crewed by ordinary civilians, sailed into danger to help bring troops home, creating what later became known as the “Dunkirk Spirit.”
The Dunkirk Little Ships Dynamo 86th Anniversary Civic Parade and Church Service
Eighty-six years on, that spirit still resonates deeply. As crowds lined the harbour and the ‘Little Ships’ gently bobbed in the water once more, there was a strong sense that history was not simply being remembered but was being honoured by a new generation.
Image Credits: Kt bruce .