Archive footage from Dunkirk found

Unique and historically significant films shot 75 years ago, during the evacuation of Allied forces from Dunkirk in 1940, have been discovered at The University of Manchester Library.

The reels of black and white footage capture key moments during Operation Dynamo, the rescue from Dunkirk of over 300,000 British and Allied troops trapped by advancing German forces.

The films were shot by Lieutenant Philip Roderick Hall who was serving aboard the destroyer HMS Whitehall, one of hundreds of naval vessels, merchant ships and small boats that took part in the rescue.

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The films, which have never been broadcast and have been seen by only a handful of people, were digitised by the North West Film Archive at Manchester Metropolitan University.

The gently sloping beaches at Dunkirk stifled efforts of large warships to sail close to the shore.

To speed up the process, the Admiralty appealed to owners of small boats for help.

These became known as the 'Little Ships'. Although they were only a small part of the rescue operation, their efforts captured the imagination of the public.

A view over a sea filled with vessels of different sizes. Fires burn on the horizon filling the sky with clouds of thick grey smoke.    It comes as around 50 small boats involved in the evacuation set sail to mark the 75th anniversary.