Ramsgate residents Dominic Murphy and Des Buckley are celebrating the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Dunkirk in style, by telling the story of Ramsgate’s key role in the Battle of Dunkirk with display boards along the East Pier of Ramsgate Royal Harbour. That is where 40,000 rescued soldiers strode to freedom in May/June 1940.
Dominic Murphy has been planning the display for six years. It was first intended for the 80th anniversary, but Covid stopped that.
He said: “At last I’m proud to help to honour the courage of the people of Ramsgate and their seafarers in saving soldiers form the beaches of Dunkirk. It’s a great part of Ramsgate’s great maritime heritage.
“I think the display has turned out well, but only because of the teamwork that made it happen. Thanet District Council, Ramsgate Town Council, Ramsgate Harbourmaster, GPS Marine, The Ramsgate Society, the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships, Expression Signs and Heritage Harbour all played their part. But it would never have happened without the great artwork produced by Des Buckley.”
The display is the first part of a wider plan to celebrate Ramsgate’s maritime heritage in words and pictures along the perimeter of the Slipways by the Pier Yard in the Royal Harbour.
The next step is a community arts project to remember the 70-plus Dunkirk Little Ships that will gather in Ramsgate for the 85th anniversary event and other aspects of Ramsgate’s maritime heritage, including the building of Smeaton’s harbour for the bustling tall ships trade, through the Napoleonic Wars to the patronage of Queen Victoria and on to modern-day leisure and tourism.
Dominic Murphy says he hopes all will be completed this year.
Tomorrow (May 16) a huge event will launch when up to 70 Dunkirk Little Ships gather in Ramsgate to commemorate the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
From 16th to 26th May, this historic flotilla will honour the heroic efforts of those who rescued British soldiers and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk in 1940.
Many of the vessels have already arrived at the harbour for the largest assembly of Dunkirk Little Ships in Ramsgate since the Second World War.
The fleet, many vessels over a century old, will then be setting sail for Dunkirk from 6am on Wednesday 21st May, escorted by Royal Navy, Estuary Services and RNLI vessels. Returning on Monday 26th May from 4pm, they will receive a hero’s welcome with a piper, standard bearers, and cheering crowds.
Find details of events across the 11 days on the link below.
