Residents travel to France to commemorate Dunkirk anniversary

FIVE residents made the journey to Dunkirk to mark the 85th anniversary of an historic WW2 rescue operation.

The Dunkirk evacuation, codenamed Operation Dynamo, saw more than 338,000 British and French troops rescued between May 26 and June 4, 1940, following the Battle of France.

Around 100,000 people were saved by the Little Ships and most of the rest from the East Mole – a long concrete pier that extended out into the English Channel from the port of Dunkirk.

The operation began after large numbers of Belgian, British, and French troops were cut off and surrounded by German troops during the six-week Battle of France.

Fiona and Bill Moffatt visited Dunkirk for the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo (Image: Submitted)During their visit, Peter Boyle, John O’Brien and Hazel Block, of Whitehaven, and Bill and Fiona Moffatt, of Cleator Moor, had a packed itinerary: visiting war graves, memorials, and the wide beaches at Bray-Dunes where much of the evacuation took place.

They also explored the port area, including the East mole, where the majority of troops were rescued. A memorial service was held followed by a chance to see 70 of the original Little Ships of Dunkirk that had crossed the channel for the anniversary.

Peter Boyle, Bill Moffatt and John O’Brien in Dunkirk (Image: Submitted)

Wreaths were laid at the Dunkirk cemetery and memorial – some of those who died were from the local Border Regiment. They also visited the Operation Dynamo war museum.

They travelled to Cassel Hill, the site of the last stand by the Ox and Bucks and the Glosters. They also went to Wormhout where the Armed SS, the combat branch of the Nazi Party’s paramilitary Schutzstaffel organisation, carried out a massacre of British troops.

Wreaths were laid at the Dunkirk cemetery and memorial (Image: Submitted)

Fiona Moffatt’s Uncle Ted served with the Northumberland Fusiliers, he was later sent to the Far East and Pat O’Brien – father of Hazel Block and John O’Brien – was also there, with the local 5th Border Regiment.

He had been at a Territorial Army camp when war was declared and was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force.

Pat and his comrades were among the last to leave the beaches – just an hour before the Germans arrived.

Pat and Angelina O’Brien pictured with John Lowrey on VE Day in 2005 (Image: Submitted)

After Dunkirk, Pat served in the Middle East and North Africa as one of the Desert Rats, driving tanks. He later fought in Sicily and Italy, including at Monte Cassino, before moving on to Greece. That’s where he met his war bride, Angelina.

He was sent home to consider the marriage but ended up re-enlisting for another three years in the King’s Hussars so he could return to Athens and marry her.