'Dunkirk Little Ships' - 27th September 2010

On Monday 27^th September 2010, our Autumn Programme started with the talk ‘Dunkirk Little Ships: restoration of boats and the 70^th anniversary crossing in May 2010’, presented by Steve and Heather Dennett and  David Cherrett.  Over the years, Michael Dennett- Boat Builders at the local boat yard on the River Thames at Laleham Reach have restored a number of the‘little ships’ which helped rescue many of the troops from Dunkirk. For more information see their website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   'Little Ship' before and after restoration

 

 

From May 27-30, 1940, the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) consolidated around Dunkirk, along with half of the French First Army. Five French Divisions set up a roadblock at Lille, where they held out for four days against seven German Panzer divisions. This allowed the British and the French in Dunkirk to set up a defensive perimeter and wait for evacuation. The possibility of the total evacuation of the BEF was first raised on May 19, only nine days after the first German attack. Codenamed Operation Dynamo, Admiral Ramsay was delegated to secure small and large craft from civilians for the evacuation. Secrecy was maintained as Naval Officers scoured the docks of London and other cities for small boats to take troops from the shore to the waiting transports. By May 27, they were on the way to France.

Many of the boats on the upper reaches of the Thames were gathered together, checked over and towed by Toughs and other tugs down river to Sheerness. Here they were fuelled and taken to Ramsgate where Naval Officers, Ratings and experienced volunteers were put aboard and directed to Dunkirk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   'Little Ships' being tower down the Thames

 

 

As a result of the Operation of the Little Ships and the considerable fleet of Naval and Merchant Marine vessels which operated off the Dunkirk beaches and harbour between the May 28 and the June 4, 1940, no less than 338,000 British and French troops were evacuated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Rescue operation at Dunkirk

 

 

Mike Dennett and his son Steve together with their staff have restored over nine of the surviving ‘little ships’  based on the Thames and have participated in the reunion voyages to Dunkirk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Reunion Crossing

 

 

The excellent talk was supplemented with a collection of memorabilia and illustrated with photographs.  

MSL