WWII: Dunkirk Evacuation | How the 'little ships' helped rescue the Allied troops
Postscripts | JB Priestley
JB Priestley pays homage to the small boats of Dunkirk.
CHANNEL | Home Service
FIRST BROADCAST | 05 June 1940
DURATION | 3 minutes 13 seconds
FIRSTBROADCAST
1940
Synopsis
At the end of May 1940, boats of all kinds were recruited to rescue the soldiers from Dunkirk, including paddle steamers. Here, Priestley describes how they were called away from the world of seaside holidays to the 'hell' that was Dunkirk. Some, such as the Gracie Fields, did not return, but will be immortalised because of their participation in the evacuation.
Did you know?
The Gracie Fields paddle steamer, which did not return from Dunkirk, was originally intended to ferry passengers between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
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