The evacuation from Dunkirk on the French coast was hailed in Britain as an extraordinary achievement and the ‘little ships of Dunkirk’ swiftly entered the mythology of wartime brave deeds.
British soldiers wade out to a waiting destroyer off Dunkirk during the evacuation.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, 31 May 1940.
Troops evacuated from Dunkirk enjoying tea and other refreshments at Addison Road station in London, 31 May 1940.
Some of the 'little ships' used during the evacuation of Dunkirk being towed back along the River Thames past Tower Bridge, 9 June 1940.
German forces moved into Dunkirk hours after the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force. Here German officers inspect a memorial on the sea front at Dunkirk.
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The Foreigners' Mess on board the Polish Navy destroyer ORP Piorun. The seven British ratings in the mess they have to themselves, left to right: coder (who kept a boarding house in civilian life), signalman (Bank of England clerk), signalman (timber merchant), and telegraphist and signalman (regulars). Playing darts are the anti-U-boat worker and HO signalman, while the other men are playing chess or writing letters. The anti-sub man was awarded the DSM for his work.
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