Dunkirk Evacuation Operation Dynamo 75th Anniversary In Ramsgate Kent
Spectators wave flags and cheer as the Dunkirk Little Ships return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The 75th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
The Kent town of Ramsgate commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Dunkirk evacuation, code-named Operation Dynamo, recently with a weekend of war time themed events. Over the weekend thousands of people descended onto the town's harbour and travelled back in time to the 1940s. Bands played and 1940s music filled the air as visitors mixed with historical re-enactors dressed as WW2 soldiers along the quayside. A Spitfire gave a fly past and the Ramsgate Tunnels, a subterranean tunnel system used to shelter 60,000 people during WWII air raids, was opened free of charge. Click here for more info. However the highlight of the weekend for me and the reason I was attending with my cameras was to photograph the returning Dunkirk Little Ships. Around 50 of the original little ships, some dating back to before the 1930s, were sailing across the English Channel after visiting Dunkirk for the 75th Anniversary.
In May 1940 the British and Allied forces had been pushed back through Europe and now thousands of troops were stranded on the beaches in Dunkirk, France. Day after day, as more troops arrived on the beaches, often already exhausted after walking miles, the Germans attacked. The Royal Navy was doing it's best but with so many troops to be evacuated and the continual German bombardment things were not looking good. And so the cry went out back in England for any small ships between 30' and 100' in length to assist in rescuing the troops.
Between the 27th May and 4th June 1940 Operation Dynamo, also known as the Miracle of Dunkirk, rescued thousands of Allied soldiers from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, France. This collection of small merchant marine boats, fishing boats, pleasure craft and lifeboats helped to evacuate over 330,000 troops and they became fondly known as the Dunkirk Little Ships. Please visit the The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships website to read more.
Photographs of the Dunkirk Little Ships Returning to Ramsgate, Kent during the 75th Anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
A Spitfire in the skies above Ramsgate in Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A Spitfire flies over Ramsgate Royal Harbour during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A historical military re-enactor dressed in a WW2 British uniform cleans his gun during the weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in Ramsgate, Kent, UK. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A historical military re-enactor dressed in a WW2 British uniform operates a gun during the weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in Ramsgate, Kent, UK. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A group of historical WW2 military re-enactor's recreate an air raid during the weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in Ramsgate, Kent, UK. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Spectators wait on the West Pier at the Royal Harbour Marina in Ramsgate, Kent, UK for the Dunkirk Little Ships to return during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A spectator waves a Union Jack Flag in the sky whilst waiting for the Dunkirk Little Ships to return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A spectator dressed in a sailors uniform holds a flag as he looks at one of the first of the Dunkirk Little Ships to return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The Lady Gay, a 1934 motor yacht and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The Maid Marion, a 1925 Cornish lugger and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Spectators wave flags and cheer as The Maid Marion, a 1925 Cornish lugger and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Spectators wave flags and cheer as The Hilfranor, a 1935 motor yacht and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Spectators wave flags and cheer as the Dunkirk Little Ships return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
Spectators wave flags and cheer as the Dunkirk Little Ships return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo.
The Marsayru, a 1937 motor yacht and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Flags are waved as the New Britannic, a 1930 passenger boat and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
People wave flags and cheer as the Dunkirk Little Ships return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
One of the original Dunkirk Little Ships return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate in Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The New Britannic, a 1930 passenger boat and one of the original Bunkirk Little Ships, can be seen through the flags being wavSpectators wave flags and cheer as the Dunkirk Little Ships (centre - the New Britannic a passenger boat built in 1930) return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The Lucy Lavers , a 1940 RNLI lifeboat and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, is cheered by spectators as it returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate in Kent, UK, during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The Massey Shaw a 1935 fireboat and one of the original Dunkirk Little Ships returns to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
The Dunkirk Little Ships ( left to right - the 1937 Motor Torpedo Boat 102 and the 1935 Hilfranor motor yacht) return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Spectators wave flags and cheer as the Dunkirk Little Ships, the 1937 Motor Torpedo Boat 102 and Hilfranor a 1935 motor yacht, return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Two of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, the 1937 Motor Torpedo Boat 102 and Hilfranor a 1935 motor yacht, return to the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgate, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
Two of the original Dunkirk Little Ships, the 1937 Motor Torpedo Boat 102 and Hilfranor a 1935 motor yacht, motor into the Royal Harbour Marina Ramsgat, Kent, UK during a weekend of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
A Union Jack flag flutters in the wind marking the end of 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo in Kent, UK. ©Scott Ramsey Photography
THE STORY BEHIND THE PHOTOGRAPHS
As I waited on the harbour wall in Ramsgate, Kent a real sense of pride was in the air. The weather had caused several of the Little Ships not to make the return journey that day and so as the wind picked up and storm clouds arrived over head, I unpacked my coat and hoped that it wouldn't rain. I had arrived early to claim my spot against the rusty railings overlooking the entrance to the harbour. Upon my arrival I had spotted several people holding flags, one in a sailors uniform, as always I soon started to chat. Sometimes when I plan a photography assignment I already have a photo in mind and this was one of those occasions. For a photographer to create informal, storytelling photographs he or she needs to have the knack of reading people and the situation. This will hopefully enable a photographer to be in the right place at the right time. It doesn't always work but having the ability to foresee a situation happening has often allowed me to create or capture a photograph other photographers miss. This is why upon my arrival I had quickly spotted the flags, a sailor, a good vantage point to see the arriving ships and
space to work in. This is why I tried to start a conversation with a very British topic about the weather. 'Looks like it might rain soon' was my opening phrase that I cast out into the crowd hoping for a return comment. This resulted in a fun hour chatting about the ships, Dunkirk and how we could have all done with a nice cup of tea whilst we waited! All this effort because of a photograph I had only imagined taking. A photograph that I felt would do this event justice and capture that Dunkirk Spirit. Planning is everything and so with my speedlight held up high on an extension lead (to make the lighting in the photograph more interesting) everything came together for a brief moment. The crowd cheered and the flags parted for a split second, I could clearly see one of the little ships. Click! Did it work, well I think so! However I guess I'm biased so please judge for yourself. My photo, the photograph I imaged taking, is at the top of this page. I have included many other photos, probably too many for a blog article, however I wanted to document the efforts everyone went to on the day.
So till next, let me know what you think about my photo and if you have any questions feel free to ask, Scott the photographer.