Little ships recreate historic rescue of Allied troops from Dunkirk, 85 years on

Eighty-five years connected from the historical rescue of hundreds of thousands of Allied troops from France, a flotilla of small ships person recreated the biggest evacuation successful subject history.

Operation Dynamo, from 26 May to 4 June 1940, saw much than 338,000 British, French and Belgian troops, trapped by the invading German forces astir Dunkirk, brought location by astir 1,000 vessels successful a hopeless and near-miraculous rescue implicit much than a week of sailings.

It was 1 of the turning points of the Second World War, redeeming the Allied origin successful Europe from full collapse, allowing them to regroup aft the Nazi Blitzkrieg threatened to expanse Germany to a accelerated and implicit victory.

One of the soldiers saved successful what came to beryllium known arsenic the Miracle of Dunkirk was Queen Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand, and she paid tribute to him connected Saturday.

In a station connected Instagram, the Queen pointed to the "eclectic postulation of seafarers, ferry masters, barge hands, fishermen and children, with their small ships" that carried retired the stunning rescue.

In his memoirs, she said, Major Shand wrote that helium took structure successful a vessel "'commanded by a midshipman who looked astir 12, assisted by a boatswain aged 80'".

She said helium and his comrades "would contiguous beryllium grateful beyond words for this lifeline".

Scroll down for pictures of the boats that took portion successful the memorial sailing.