HRH PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT GCVO
Honorary Admiral
The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships
THE SPIRIT OF DUNKIRK
Operation Dynamo May - June 1940
The Dunkirk evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, was the evacuation of Allied soldiers during World War II from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940. The object of the Association is to keep alive and preserve for posterity the memory and identity of those ‘Little Ships’ that went to the aid of the British Expeditionary Force in 1940 and took part in Operations Dynamo, Cycle and Aerial and to preserve the “Spirit of Dunkirk” by forming a registered Association of their present day owners and of those closely associated.
OPERATION DYNAMO
"The Admiralty have made an Order requesting all owners of self-propelled pleasure craft between 30' and 100' in length to send all particulars to the Admiralty within 14 days from today if they have not already been offered or requisitioned"
BBC announcement on the 14th May 1940.
What is Operation Dynamo and the events surrounding the biggest evacuation in military history.
THE LITTLE SHIPS
A collection of approximately 850 private boats and 20 warships participated in Operation Dynamo, not all were documented or known. More than 200 ships were lost at Dunkirk.
The term Little Ship applies to all craft that were originally privately owned and includes commercial vessels such as barges, British, French, Belgian and Dutch fishing vessels and pleasure steamers. The Association does include some ex-Service vessels, which are now privately owned, and ex-Lifeboats.
WAS MY BOAT AT DUNKIRK?
How do I identify if my boat took part in the Dunkirk Evacuations ?
If you think your boat took part in Operation Dynamo, Cycle or Aerial please read the following information on researching a Dunkirk Little Ships provenance.
EVENTS
The Association meets several times a year on 'official business', some of these events are for the Little Ships and members only, however, at any of the public events that we take our Little Ships to, we warmly encourage the support from the public. Please see below for 2022's schedule.
Saturday 23rd April 2022
OOSTENDE VOOR ANKER
19th to 21st May
2022
COMMEMORATIVE
CRUISE RAMSGATE
2nd - 6th June
THAMES TRADITIONAL BOAT FESTIVAL
15th to 17th July
16th July to 23rd July
CLASSIC BOAT FESTIVAL
ST KATHARINES DOCK
9th to 11th September
LAYING UP SUPPER
CLOSED EVENT
MEMBERS ONLY
Details TBC October 2022
HRH PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT GCVO
Honorary Admiral
The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships
CONTACT US
The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships is a private members organisation who collectively aim to commemorate the events surrounding Operations Dynamo, Cycle & Aerial in May/June 1940.
We are a not for profit association and are not a Charity or a Trust. Although many of the individual ships may be part of trusts, they are not run or organised by the ADLS, whilst we encourage all members, private, trust and charitable alike we do not raise or ask for funds.
The Committee of the ADLS is made up of volunteers and we will endeavour to answer all enquiries, many of which can be answered by our events page and or following us on social media.
Thank you for your continued interest and support.