Under the cover of darkness, hundreds of civilian sailors took their small boats into the shelling and gunfire of a warzone, and helped rescue more than 330,000 soldiers. Eighty-five years later, 67 of these surviving little ships are making their return to Dunkirk, to mark arguably the most miraculous feat in military history.
Pudge, the wooden Thames sailing barge, was moored up in London at night in May 1940 when her unremarkable life as a cargo carrier was interrupted in spectacular fashion.
She was one of about 850 little ships that were requisitioned by the government to help rescue Allied forces stranded on the beach in northern France.
Pudge was towed to Dunkirk with two other barges, but they both sank.
An estimated 160 troops – wounded, soaked through and traumatised – clambered aboard Pudge and were taken back to Ramsgate in Kent.
Pudge now enjoys a peaceful retirement in Maldon, Essex, as a charter boat.
Just as she did 85 years ago, the barge will set sail before sunrise on Monday – this time with 16 local people on board.
