Pilgrimage Of "Little Ships" To Dunkirk Ten Years After

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23271, 5 June 1950, Page 5

Pilgrimage Of "Little Ships" To Dunkirk Ten Years After

(N.Z.P.A.—Reuter—Copyright.)

(11 a.m.) PARIS, June 4. The “little ships” of the heroic fleet of lifeboatsyachts and fishing smacks that snatched the British Army from under Hitler’s nose 10 years ago have come back to Dunkirk. This time, however, they were greeted by flags, not shells.

It was the tenth anniversary of the “miracle” evacuation and British bank clerks, barristers, business men—all heroes of the drama of the beaches—have returned for commemoration ceremonies.

The French Ministry of Marine 1 offered gunfire salutes, but this was refused. The men of the “little ships” said they just ■wanted to make a quiet pilgrimage.

They slipped into the harbour in ones and twos just as they did 10 years ago. Among them was Commander Lightoller’S Sundowner which somehow or other brought back 130 men in 1940 although she had a capacity for only 11. There was the Gipsy King lugger that spent 48 hours ferrying men out from the naked beaches. There were the Thames tugs Tanga, Crested 'Hook and Sun which shuttled back and forth until the crews dropped with exhaustion. Just as it was 10 years ago there were no formalities. “We don’t want to see your passports, messieurs—the town is yours,” said officials. “Welcome backi”

On the shell-torn quayside just by the historic beaches, a British padre today conducted a simple drumhead service while overhead droned some of “The Few” —Spitfires that battled over Dunkirk 10 years ago.