Fleet of 'Little Ships' leave Ramsgate for Dunkirk to commemorate Operation Dynamo
It marks the 85th anniversary of when 338,000 allied soldiers were rescued from the beaches of northern France
Dozens of 'little ships' left Ramsgate Harbour this morning for Dunkirk as part of commemorations to mark the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
More than 338,000 allied soldiers were evacuated from the beaches of northern France during the Second World War.
In May 1940 the call went out to little ships across the country to join the effort led by the Royal Navy to help bring soldiers back to our shores.
The allied forces had been driven into a small pocket around Dunkirk by the advancing German army.
More than 1,000 ships took part in the rescue, sadly 305 vessels were sunk.
The little ships set sail from Ramsgate this morning and are expected to arrive in Dunkirk at around 4pm this afternoon, depending on the weather and sea conditions.
A Navy guard of honour is escorting them.