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| Fleet marks Dunkirk anniversary | Fleet marks Dunkirk anniversary |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The first of a fleet of "little ships" commemorating the 70th anniversary since the rescue mission that saved allied troops has arrived in Dunkirk. | |
| More than 50 ships headed to France from Ramsgate in Kent to mark Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of about 338,000 soldiers from Dunkirk's beaches. | |
| The troops had been driven back to the coast by the German army. | The troops had been driven back to the coast by the German army. |
| Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the "heroism" of those who took part in the original mission. | |
| 'Dunkirk spirit' | |
| He said: "The heroism and valour shown by the people who went to the rescue of the thousands of troops stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk 70 years ago is a testament to the courage and endeavour of British people. | |
| "Our country should always be grateful to and remember all those who were involved in the evacuation, and our thoughts go to all those who didn't make it home. | |
| The phrase "Dunkirk spirit" is seen as emblematic of British determination and courage in the face of adversity. | The phrase "Dunkirk spirit" is seen as emblematic of British determination and courage in the face of adversity. |
| See a map explaining the Dunkirk evacuation | |
| The first boats to enter Dunkirk were greeted by musicians. | |
| The flotilla in Ramsgate, in Kent, was cheered by rain-soaked crowds as it set sail for Dunkirk, in north-east France, at 0700 BST. | |
| BBC correspondent Jon Kay was on board the Greta, the oldest of the little ships that brought back hundreds of exhausted men 70 years ago. | |
| He was joined by Brian de Mattos whose father Basil was part of the rescue mission. | He was joined by Brian de Mattos whose father Basil was part of the rescue mission. |
| Mr de Mattos said: "It's a great honour for me to be following in my father's footsteps 70 years later. To see all these little ships is really quite an emotional time. | Mr de Mattos said: "It's a great honour for me to be following in my father's footsteps 70 years later. To see all these little ships is really quite an emotional time. |
| Dunkirk 'disappointment' recalled The men who defined the 'Dunkirk spirit' Audio slideshow: Dunkirk rescue In pictures: Little ships in Ramsgate | Dunkirk 'disappointment' recalled The men who defined the 'Dunkirk spirit' Audio slideshow: Dunkirk rescue In pictures: Little ships in Ramsgate |
| "My father made many trips in and out of Dunkirk harbour often under fire from the enemy." | "My father made many trips in and out of Dunkirk harbour often under fire from the enemy." |
| The original evacuation took place between 26 May and 4 June 1940, and involved 900 naval and civilian craft which were sent across the Channel under RAF protection. | The original evacuation took place between 26 May and 4 June 1940, and involved 900 naval and civilian craft which were sent across the Channel under RAF protection. |
| Among them were a number of smaller vessels including fishing boats pleasure crafts, paddle steamers and lifeboats. | Among them were a number of smaller vessels including fishing boats pleasure crafts, paddle steamers and lifeboats. |
| During the evacuation - described by Winston Churchill as a "miracle of deliverance" - the Luftwaffe attacked whenever the weather allowed and at least 5,000 soldiers were killed. | During the evacuation - described by Winston Churchill as a "miracle of deliverance" - the Luftwaffe attacked whenever the weather allowed and at least 5,000 soldiers were killed. |
| English Heritage historian Paul Pattison said the troops who disembarked at the ports of Dover were given a warm and compassionate welcome. | English Heritage historian Paul Pattison said the troops who disembarked at the ports of Dover were given a warm and compassionate welcome. |
| He said: "They were given a cup of tea, a ham sandwich and clothing where they needed it because they were wet and bedraggled and often blood-stained. | He said: "They were given a cup of tea, a ham sandwich and clothing where they needed it because they were wet and bedraggled and often blood-stained. |
| "They were then very quickly put onto trains and dispatched all over the country - away from the danger zone - for a bit of rest and recuperation before they were ready to join their units again." | "They were then very quickly put onto trains and dispatched all over the country - away from the danger zone - for a bit of rest and recuperation before they were ready to join their units again." |
| Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Marina was the reception centre for returning troops and after a weekend of commemorative events in France, the little ships are due to return there on Monday. | Ramsgate's Royal Harbour Marina was the reception centre for returning troops and after a weekend of commemorative events in France, the little ships are due to return there on Monday. |
| Edwin Brown, who was among those rescued in 1940, told the BBC: "They made a hell of a difference because they got us out to the bigger boats where we could get some help from the sailors who couldn't get in because of the depth of the water. | Edwin Brown, who was among those rescued in 1940, told the BBC: "They made a hell of a difference because they got us out to the bigger boats where we could get some help from the sailors who couldn't get in because of the depth of the water. |
| "There isn't a better spirit anywhere because everyone was looking after each other. | "There isn't a better spirit anywhere because everyone was looking after each other. |
| More than 300,000 Allied troops were rescued from the Dunkirk beaches | More than 300,000 Allied troops were rescued from the Dunkirk beaches |
| "If you were in trouble and you needed help, it was there. That was the Dunkirk spirit." | "If you were in trouble and you needed help, it was there. That was the Dunkirk spirit." |
| The ships are being escorted by the Royal Navy frigate HMS Monmouth - the youngest ship in the flotilla - on their eight-hour journey. | |
| Rear Adm Tom Cunningham said it was important for his crew to take part. | Rear Adm Tom Cunningham said it was important for his crew to take part. |
| He said: "We all have very strong bonds in the maritime community and we recognise... what a sacrifice and what bravery it took for [the small ships] to do it." | He said: "We all have very strong bonds in the maritime community and we recognise... what a sacrifice and what bravery it took for [the small ships] to do it." |
| A commemorative ceremony is due to be held at the Allied memorial on Dunkirk beach on Saturday. There will be a minute's silence, followed by the national anthems of Britain, the Czech Republic, France and Belgium. | A commemorative ceremony is due to be held at the Allied memorial on Dunkirk beach on Saturday. There will be a minute's silence, followed by the national anthems of Britain, the Czech Republic, France and Belgium. |
| Historians say the evacuation boosted British morale at a crucial point of the war. | Historians say the evacuation boosted British morale at a crucial point of the war. |
| World War II expert Nick Hewitt said Dunkirk "bought time" for the Allies, allowing them to regroup and fight another day. | World War II expert Nick Hewitt said Dunkirk "bought time" for the Allies, allowing them to regroup and fight another day. |
| "Without Dunkirk, Britain wouldn't have had an army and it's extremely questionable whether it could have fought the war," he said. | "Without Dunkirk, Britain wouldn't have had an army and it's extremely questionable whether it could have fought the war," he said. |
| Dunkirk evacuation--> BACK{current} of {total}NEXT | Dunkirk evacuation--> BACK{current} of {total}NEXT |
| Are you taking part in the voyage? Will you be there to meet the fleet? If you have any information or pictures you would like to share with us, please use the form below. | Are you taking part in the voyage? Will you be there to meet the fleet? If you have any information or pictures you would like to share with us, please use the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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