Royal Navy escorts historic flotilla over to Dunkirk for 85th anniversary commemorations

Seven Royal Navy P2000 patrol vessels from the Coastal Forces Squadron helped escort the Little Ships of Dunkirk across the channel to France for the 85th anniversary commemorations.

The event remembered the hundreds of small craft which took part in the evacuation of British and Allied troops from Dunkirk in 1940.

With 64 original vessels taking part in the commemoration, it marked the largest gathering of the small ships, fishing vessels, yachts and pleasure cruisers since the 1940 operation itself.

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At first light, the flotilla headed out from Ramsgate and sailed towards the beaches of Dunkirk, as they had done 85 years ago, accompanied by the Navy patrol vessels.

Thousands of people gathered to wave them on their way in the dawn sunlight.

The ships crossed the English Channel in calm conditions and arrived in Dunkirk in the late afternoon.

It was the first time they had recreated the historic journey since 2015.

Twenty-one personnel from HMS Collingwood were also aboard the Little Ships to mark the occasion.

In May 1940, thousands of Allied troops became trapped on Dunkirk's beaches by the advancing German military.

When the call came for ships of all shapes and sizes to rescue them, 600 immediately responded.

Between 26 May and 4 June 1940, around 850 unarmed private boats sailed through heavy enemy fire on a crucial rescue mission.

Some of those boats bravely made multiple trips, eventually saving nearly 340,000 soldiers.

Had so many not made it back to Britain, the war could well have been lost. 

Sadly, there are no longer any Dunkirk veterans left alive to witness the historic commemoration, with the last veteran passing away just days before, at the age of 105.

"This will be the first time when we've gone over when there are no veterans," said Ian Gilbert, Honorary Vice Admiral of the 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."

A day before the commemorative crossing, crew members of the Royal Navy Coastal Forces Squadron, sailors from HMS Collingwood and a Royal Marines band took part in a parade to mark the anniversary.

A vintage Swordfish plane also took part in a flypast.

The commemorative events in Dunkirk are due to continue until 29 May.