Stunning projections and a soundtrack will tell the story of the Little Ships and the WWII rescue of British and allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk next weekend.
The projection show is part of a huge event in Ramsgate’s marking the 86th anniversary of the wartime rescue, Operation Dynamo.
Last year the projection took place on the face of the Clock House at the harbour but, due to the building undergoing works, the show is on the move to the cliff face by the Ramsgate Tunnels.
The projections were created through historic images and archival footage collated through painstaking research by Broadstairs resident and Illumiscape Ltd boss Howard Griffin.
Howard used projection mapping -a technique that uses projectors to display images or video onto non-flat surfaces like buildings- to bring to life Ramsgate, first in the 1930s, into the declaration of war with Germany and then the events of the Operation Dynamo rescue of May and June 1940.
Howard, who taught for 27 years at the University of Kent, said: “It takes a lot of research, going through the stories. It is about personal stories rather than just facts and figures, using accounts of those that were there.
“It shows people watching that these were just ordinary people, like them, doing extraordinary things.”
Much of the footage was provided by the Imperial War Museum and Howard also carried out research at Ramsgate Library and trawled through the British Newspaper Archives looking not just at the war years but also the years prior to the conflict and the 1950s.
The stories are brought to life through narration and imagery.
The projection includes big band music from the 30s and then moves into a more sombre tone as Neville Chamberlain is shown announcing the declaration of war.
A ‘ticking timebomb’ piece in the projection leading to Operation Dynamo is inspired by works from German composer and music producer Hans Zimmer.
Howard says the display will be on the large wall by the Ramsgate Tunnels but will look as though the Clock House is there.
Dates and times
The projection mapping will be shown on May 23 and 24 at approximately 9.30pm.
On May 23 it will follow The Silent Return, We Are Shadows procession featuring QRA Drum Corps and their illuminated batons at 8.50pm from the top of Harbour Parade, pausing at the Queen’s Head for a 10 minute performance and then on to Ramsgate Tunnels.
The Sea Cadets Evening Colours Ceremony then takes place at 9.20pm with a three-minute bugle performance outside the Tunnels followed by the Dynamo – Spirit of Ramsgate projection.
On May 24, the sequence of procession, colours ceremony and projection will be repeated at the same times.
The projection last for 17 minutes.
Find a map and detailed programme on Visit Ramsgate at: https://www.visitramsgate.co.uk/the-little-ships-return-may-2026/
Please remember to turn off the projector after the show otherwise we will have nighttime crossings from the migrant camps dotted around the French coastline.