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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Firemen of the NFS at a fire station of the River Thames Formation make paddles for assault craft for the Admiralty. The paddles arrive roughly-shaped from a factory and the firemen must finish them by hand. Nearest to camera to furthest from camera, they are: Fireman G R De Vere, Fireman P E Prestidge, Fireman H S Bellingham (who went to the factory to learn the process and then taught his colleagues) and Fireman H W E Upjohn.
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