Standing with Giants to Commemorate Dunkirk with 338 Silhouettes in Ramsgate
This month Ramsgate harbour will become the setting for a moving tribute with 338 life-sized silhouettes installed along the quayside in tribute to the sacrifices made during the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk.
Standing with Giants commemorates the Second World War emergency rescue of 338, 226 British and Allied troops, surrounded by German forces in France, named Operation Dynamo.
Almost 900 naval and civilian “Little Ships” sailed into danger to bring them home under enemy fire. Each of the 338 silhouettes represents 1,000 soldiers, illustrating the scale of one of the most remarkable rescue operations in modern history.
The installation is delivered in collaboration with Ramsgate Town Council, and the Royal Temple Yacht Club and will be in place from May 15 to June 28.
Alongside the main installation, an additional seven ‘Standing with Giants’ silhouettes will be installed to honour the role the town of Ramsgate played during the 1940s, recognising the resilience of the local community. The larger figures will help tell the wider story of home front life.
Standing with Giants is a UK charity dedicated to creating large-scale remembrance installations that honour service, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of those who gave their tomorrow for our today.
The installation will remain in place until after the Armed Forces Day Parade on June 27.
From May 22-25 the Dunkirk Little Ships will return to Ramsgate Royal Harbour for an 86th-anniversary commemoration. Some 25 historic vessels, which helped rescue Allied troops in 1940, will gather in the Inner Harbour.
There will also be live music, markets, a fair, and a commemorative parade on Sunday, May 24, 2026.
Events include a Little Ships in Concert performance, military vehicle displays, parades, workshops and more
Friday 22nd
Little Ships arrive at the Harbour (possibility of earlier)
Live music at the Harbourside
Funfair
Replica Spitfire on display
Visit a Little Ship with booking via Ramsgate Tunnels
Saturday 23rd
Live music at the Harbourside
Local handmade market
Children’s workshops
Military Vehicle display
Replica Spitfire on display
Visit a Little Ship with booking via Ramsgate Tunnels
Sea Cadets Sunset Ceremony
Tommy Silhouette Parade at sundown
Sunday 24th
Live music at the Harbourside
Sea Cadets Sunset Ceremony
Tommy Silhouette Parade at sundown
Military Vehicle display
Replica Spitfire on display
Visit a Little Ship with booking via Ramsgate Tunnels
Monday 25th
Live music at the Harbourside
Town Parade and Commemorative Service
Replica Spitfire on display
There will also be events at Ramsgate Tunnels including Local History Day on May 16 with displays from local museums and heritage sites across Thanet and East Kent, celebrating the area’s rich history, from flying aces to historic holy sites.
A selection of Ramsgate Archive papers, chronicling the town’s history over the past hundred years, will be on display.
The team of passionate and friendly volunteers will also be on hand to offer expert advice and inspire visitors in their own historical investigations.
The Tunnels’ popular Deep Tunnel Shelter Tours will operate as normal, throughout the day (normal ticket prices apply; pre-booking advised).
