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In the annals of British military history, few events have captured the imagination and spirit of resilience quite like Operation Dynamo. Referred to by Churchill himself as a “Miracle of deliverance,” this audacious evacuation of Allied troops from the beaches of northern France in 1940 turned what could have been a catastrophic defeat into a symbol of hope and unity.

On May 21, 2025, more than 70 small craft are expected to sail once again from Ramsgate in Kent to the French port, shepherded by a Royal Navy ‘guard of honour’ of around half a dozen vessels, to mark the 85th anniversary of the extraordinary undertaking.

As the nation prepares to mark the occasion, in this blog I’ve attempted to delve into the dramatic unfolding of Operation Dynamo, from its desperate beginnings to its triumphant conclusion.

In my forthcoming book – For Those In Peril (released August 1st 2025, order now)- the twins at the heart of the story experience Operation Dynamo from the perspectives of a sub-lieutenant on a Royal Navy destroyer, and a deckhand on a merchant ship. But it’s the story of the “little ships” that has been most adopted by the nation’s hearts. But how did this dramatic retreat come about?

Let’s start with the basics. The seeds of Operation Dynamo were sown in the early days of the Second World War. Following Germany’s invasion of Poland in September 1939, Britain and France declared war on Germany. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was dispatched to France to support the French Army, and for several months, a tense stalemate known as the “Phoney War” ensued.

This uneasy calm was shattered on 10 May 1940, when Germany launched a blitzkrieg offensive through the Low Countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg) and into France. The speed and ferocity of the German advance caught the Allies off guard. German Panzer divisions bypassed the heavily fortified Maginot Line by sweeping through the Ardennes Forest, a region mistakenly believed to be impassable to tanks.

By mid-May, the German forces had effectively split the Allied armies, encircling the BEF, along with French and Belgian troops, in a pocket around the port city of Dunkirk. With their backs to the sea and the enemy closing in, the Allies faced annihilation or capture.

The Decision to Evacuate

On 20 May 1940, the German army reached the Channel coast, cutting off the BEF from the rest of the French forces. The situation grew increasingly dire. On 23 May, the British War Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, authorised the planning of a mass evacuation. The operation was to be coordinated from Dover Castle under the command of Vice Admiral Bertram Ramsay.

Codenamed Operation Dynamo, the plan aimed to rescue as many troops as possible using a combination of Royal Navy vessels and an improvised flotilla of civilian boats – fishing trawlers, pleasure craft, lifeboats, merchant ships and ferries – collectively known as the “Little Ships.”

The Evacuation Begins

Operation Dynamo officially commenced on the evening of 26 May 1940. The first full day of evacuation, 27 May, was marked by chaos and destruction. The German Luftwaffe bombed Dunkirk’s harbour, rendering it unusable for large ships. Despite the devastation, 7,669 troops were rescued.

On 28 May, the Belgian army surrendered, further complicating the Allied position. However, thick clouds and smoke from burning oil tanks provided cover from German air attacks, allowing 17,804 troops to be evacuated. The following day, 29 May, saw a massive Luftwaffe assault. Despite the onslaught, the evacuation effort intensified, with 47,310 troops rescued. French forces began to join the evacuation, adding to the urgency.

By 30 May, the weather turned in favour of the Allies. Poor visibility hampered German air operations, and the German Panzer divisions, for reasons still debated by historians, had halted their advance days earlier. This pause gave the Allies precious time. That day, 53,823 troops were evacuated.

From the jaws of defeat

31 May marked the most successful day of the operation. With the perimeter around Dunkirk holding firm, 68,014 troops were rescued. However, the cost was high – 35,000 Allied troops were captured at Lille after a valiant rearguard action.

On 1 June, clear skies returned, giving the Luftwaffe a deadly advantage. Four Royal Navy destroyers and 27 other vessels were sunk. Nevertheless, 62,429 troops were evacuated. By 2 June, the evacuation of the BEF was largely complete. That day, 26,256 troops were rescued. On 3 June, another 26,746 were brought to safety.

The final night of Operation Dynamo, 4 June, saw the evacuation of 26,175 troops, mostly French soldiers. At 03:40 on 4 June, the operation officially ended. In total, 338,226 Allied troops were rescued – far exceeding the initial goal of 45,000.

The Role of the Little Ships

One of the most iconic aspects of Operation Dynamo was the involvement of the “Little Ships.” More than 800 civilian vessels answered the call, many crewed by ordinary citizens. These boats braved minefields, rough seas, and enemy fire to ferry soldiers from the beaches to larger ships offshore or directly back to England.

Their contribution was not only practical but symbolic. The sight of these humble craft arriving to save the stranded soldiers became a powerful image of national solidarity and courage.

The evacuation was fraught with peril. The beaches were under constant bombardment from German artillery and aircraft. Soldiers waited in long queues, often standing in water for hours, vulnerable to attack. The Royal Air Force (RAF) provided crucial air cover, though their efforts were not always visible to those on the ground, leading to criticism at the time.

Despite the dangers, countless acts of heroism were recorded. Naval officers, civilian volunteers, and soldiers alike displayed extraordinary bravery. Rearguard units, including French and British troops, held off the German advance to buy time for the evacuation.

Though Operation Dynamo was a tactical withdrawal, it was hailed as a strategic success. Churchill, in his famous speech to the House of Commons on 4 June 1940, captured the mood of the nation: “We shall go on to the end… we shall fight on the beaches… we shall never surrender.”

The evacuation preserved the core of the British Army, allowing Britain to continue the fight against Nazi Germany. Many of the rescued troops would later participate in key campaigns in North Africa, Italy, and the D-Day landings. The “Dunkirk Spirit”, a term that came to symbolise unity, resilience, and determination in the face of adversity, was born from this extraordinary episode.

Operation Dynamo remains one of the most remarkable military operations in history. Against overwhelming odds, a combination of strategic planning, sheer bravery, and a bit of luck enabled the rescue of more than 330,000 Allied troops. It was a moment when a nation came together to turn potential disaster into a beacon of hope.

FOR THOSE IN PERIL is the first book in the Romulus Hutchinson Naval Adventure series: action-packed, authentic historical adventures following twin brothers serving with the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy during the Second World War. I