The anniversary ships were escorted by the HMS Monmouth and a fly-past was made by the Royal Navy Historical Flight of planes from the era.
The Medway Queen, which did not participate in the anniversary run, was a paddle steamer built on the Clyde River in 1924 as a pleasure boat. It is widely called "The Heroine of Dunkirk," making seven crosasings and bringing 7,000 troops home.
It was so badly damaged on its last trip that it was reported as lost. After the war, it went on to serve as a nightclub and restaurant but became a derelict and headed for a scrapyard until a movement to save it took place and a grant from the Heritage Lottery will provide funds needed, but it is not yet in sailing condition. It is the last surviving estuary paddle steamer.
Signalman Eric Woodroffe of Medway Queen said they were excited when asked to join the Dunkirk mission after months of boring minesweeping. From far out at sea, they could see smoke rising from the beaches and knew they were really getting into it.
By the final crossing, two of the five members on the ship had been lost and the captain and crew were so exhausted that replacements had to be drafted from other ships to take their place.
Quite a Heroic Event. --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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