Commemorative Return to Dunkirk – 2025

The Royal Temple Yacht Club are extremely proud to have been invited by the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships to be the official Supporting Club for the Commemorative Return to Dunkirk – 2025.

The ADLS has organised Commemorative Returns to Dunkirk since 1965. Next year (2025) more than 60 Little Ships plan to cross the Channel to Dunkirk from Ramsgate. The flotilla will take Royal Navy ratings and be accompanied by Royal Navy vessels. The Belgian and French will also have military vessels in attendance.

In Dunkirk, the City authorities are planning a number of memorial events to mark this important event in their calendar. The Dunkirk Little ships are planning to sail on the 21^{st of} May. Ramsgate will also host events before the Little Ships sail for Dunkirk. It is hoped that the return in 2025 will attract the same interest and support both in the UK and with our allies in France and Belgium.

Ian Gilbert, the Hon. Vice Admiral ADLS said ‘In 2015 I had the honour of leading 50 Dunkirk Little Ships on the 75^th Commemorative Return to Dunkirk. Due to Covid there was no Return in 2020 so the planned Return in 2025 has special significance because, regrettably, for the first time there will be no Dunkirk Veterans joining us. On the last Return I was asked several times if the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships would continue to take the fleet over to Dunkirk once the last of the Veterans had ‘crossed the bar’. The answer today is the same as I gave in 2015 – emphatically ‘yes’. The Little Ships are now the sole tangible link to that seminal event in 1940 and as long as one Little Ship remains seaworthy, the commemoration will continue. We welcome all our friends who choose to support this commemoration and we thank you for taking the time and effort to join our tribute to those who gave their all for our freedom. ‘

Karen Cox, The Commodore of The Royal Temple Yacht Club in Ramsgate said, “We are honoured to have been chosen as the Support Club for the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships return to Dunkirk in May 2025”.

Between 26th May and 4th June 1940 about 850 private boats sailed from Ramsgate’s Royal Harbour to Dunkirk in Northern France, helping to rescue more than 336,000 British, French, and Allied troops who were trapped on the beaches during the Second World War.

The year before, in 1939, the Royal Temple Yacht Club had been requisitioned, along with other buildings in Ramsgate, by the Royal Navy as the shore-based H.M.S Fervent. When the preparations began for the retreat, the naval personnel swelled to 650, under the command of Captain W.R. Phillimore. He was tasked with making all provision for the assembling and maintenance of all the small naval and civilian vessels, which soon descended on the harbour. The vast majority of these vessels were to become the famous Little Ships.

We are proud that this part of our history is coming full circle as we support ADLS to prepare for the 85th Return to Dunkirk.”

For further information please contact:

RTYC

Chris Cox

RTYC Dunkirk 2025 event coordinator

chriscox2227@gmail.com