15DunkirkLittle

Dunkirk Little Ships by Nigel Sharp. 96p., c.180 colour illustrations. Amberley Publishing, 2015.

£14.99 ISBN: 9781445647500

The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships was formed soon after the twenty-fifth anniversary of Operation Dynamo, at the instigation of Raymond Baxter, when some forty-three of the little ships sailed back to France as part of the commemoration of the evacuation. This volume of almost two hundred pictures is published to coincide with the seventy-fifth anniversary and celebrates the work of the Association. There is no accurate record of how many craft took part in the Dunkirk evacuation, but it is generally supposed to be about 900, of which 700 were privately owned. Around 120 of these are still operational, although many more may survive. The term “little ships” brings to mind the archetypal small cabin cruiser of the time, but as this volume demonstrates these craft ranged from paddle steamers, tugs and passenger ferries to schuyts, lifeboats and even a fireboat.

The book is perhaps best described as a record of the activities of the ships taking part in commemoration events since the Association was formed in 1967 and in reality examines the state of the Dunkirk little ships today rather than offering any fresh information or insights on events in 1940. The pictures are in general from the last two decades and show the craft in their current state, often taking part in one or other of the regular Return events organised by the Association. Pictures are arranged in a somewhat random order but are very well reproduced. Many have paragraph length accompaniments describing what is known of their service at Dunkirk, their current state, ownership and use. There is much fascinating detail here but it is somewhat randomly scattered and unindexed.

This is a well produced volume which celebrates the survival of so many of these mythic craft. It is a book to be dipped into rather than read and is informative on their post-war fates and the role they play in a whole series of commemorative events. It has limited coverage of the events of 1940 themselves. The author is a freelance marine writer and photographer and a lifelong sailor and his knowledge is used to good effect.

Derek Law

University of Strathclyde