The 85th anniversary commemorative return to dunkirk between the 21st to 26th May 2025
Purpose of the Return
The purpose of the Return is to commemorate the bravery of the troops who were the rescued, the bravery of those who rescued them and remember those who did not return. As it is highly unlikely that any actual armed forces Veterans will be at the 2025 Return, the eyes of the public are more and more on our boats and our crew.
RYEGATE II from the Netherlands to Ramsgate (U.K.)
Following a three-year complete refurbishment, it was time to Commemorative ceremonies in Ramsgate
take care of the 1,500 kg ballast, a figure that could be found in the historical documents of R. E. Collingson, Seaman. Placing it inside the ship on the floor was not a good idea. The well-known Dutch yacht designer, Frank Mulder, designed a construction in which the ballast was attached to the keel beam outside the ship.
Time was running out. On 12, May 2025, the RYEGATE II was loaded onto a large truck and left the port of Stavoren (NL) by land for Ramsgate (U.K.), where she arrived safely and on time at the Haven quay on 13 May. Without an escort, a crossing of the English Channel from Holland to Ramsgate would have been irresponsible.
RYEGATE II was escorted by the harbour authorities to its berth in the Royal Harbour, at the harbour quay in the centre of the city. The harbour was still on standby for the arrival of a further 65 or so Dunkirk Little Ships.
One by one, the RYEGATE II crew from the Netherlands, Belgium and the USA arrived in Ramsgate. The Royal Harbour, in the centre of Ramsgate, was soon packed to the brim with 63 Dunkirk Little Ships.
Colin Dimbylow, owner of AQABELLE, took up his berth right next to us. He was the one who provided us with the historical films about our ship featured on this homepage. Writing about the reunion with RYEGATE II, he said:
“Our mooring placed us beside Ryegate II – poignantly, another boat once owned by my grandfather Benjamin Taylor before he bought Aquabelle. The sight of them together felt like a family reunion spanning generations and decades. That evening’s fish and chips on deck tasted all the better”.
The Commemorative events in Ramsgate
On Tuesday 20 May, the opening ceremony and the commemorative parade took place at the harbour quay in the city centre.
HRH Prince Michael of Kent, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, in his capacity as Honorary Admiral of the ADLS, accompanied by his personal equerry, Lieutenant Commander Jacob Ball, made a dignified impression. He was tireless in his efforts to attend the various events.
At the start of the ceremony some people were introduced to the Prince by ADLS Commodore Kevin Finn, including the owner of RYEGATE II, Nicolaas Tjebbes, representing the Netherlands and the only ship participant from the European continent.
This was followed by the impressive musical parade by the Band of His Magesty`s Royal Marines and the Queens Regiment Association Corps of Drums.
Right up until the departure for Dunkirk, the programme continued in a dignified and colourful manner in the heart of the city.of Ramsgate. The local residents, who were always very interested, were present in large numbers.
It soon became clear just how much the ADLS organising committee had achieved through years of detailed voluntary work. Kevin Finn, as acting Commodore; Ian Gilbert, as Honorary Vice-Admiral and one of the main organisers; Simon Palmer, who, as former Commodore, played a key role in the long-term planning; Heather Dennett, as Honorary Event Secretary, who was in constant contact with the Dunkirk participants; and Chris Cox, Head of Event Planning at the Royal Temple Yacht Club. There were too many helping hands at work to name them all here.
The entire Dunkirk 2025 event went incredibly smoothly!
To mention some events in Ramsgate:
ADLS buffet at the Royal Thames Yachting Club, a rum toast alongside the Medway Queen, the paddle steamer built in 1924 which rescued around 7,000 Allied soldiers during seven crossings of the English Channel, visits to memorial plaques, a special Church Service for the crews, the Little Ships Concert and drinks receptions hosted by the RTYC.
During “The Little Ships Concert” in Ramsgate harbour, British singer Ruby Caddick-Lawrence performed the song “Go to the Limits of your Longing”, composed by Donna Mc Kevitt especially for the 85th anniversary.
At this world premiere, over 120 choir singers joined in the performance, accompanied simultaneously by the ship’s horns, bells and sirens of around 65 Little Ships in the harbour basin.
A Spitfire and Swordfish, “World War II” fighter and Torpedo planes flew over the Harbour whilst the audience applauded on the Royal Harbourfront.
On 20 May, HRH Prince Michael of Kent unveiled the Dynamo Memorial on the Ramsgate Royal Harbourfront.
He led a service to officially dedicate the original ship’s bell from the *Crested Aegle*, a Thames paddle steamer. The ship was hit by German Stuka bombers. The captain ran her aground at Zuydcoote beach, east of Dunkirk. Over 300 soldiers died.
On 20 May, a Dunkirk Little Ship Commemoration Service took place at the Sailors’ Church, Royal Harbour, Ramsgate. As Rev. Paul Worledge delivered his final blessing, a ‘dove of peace’ flew high above the heads of those present, from one corner of the church to the other.
Departure from Ramsgate to Dunkirk
The crossing of the English Channel
It was time to say goodbye to Ramsgate.
At 06:00 in the morning, the town crier rang the bell for every departing ship. Our skipper, Frank Mulder, gave our neighbour, the AQUABELLE, a gentle push and off she went, on board the Crested Eagle’s ship’s bell. This 85th return to Dunkirk, marked the first official ADLS Channel crossing since 2015. Sailing in a formation of four ships, 63 vessels were seeking their place in the flotilla. It was overwhelming to see hundreds of early risers on the pier bidding farewell to our fleet. We will remember Ramsgate as a particularly hospitable, warm and humorous place.
During the crossing, we were escorted by seven Royal Navy patrol boats and RNLI lifeboats.
In the afternoon, around 4.00 pm, the first signs of Dunkirk came into view. During the crossing of the English Channel, there was an accident involving a boat full of refugees carrying nearly 80 people The overcrowded boat had set off from the coast of Graelines in northern France and was heading towards British territorial waters. The incident forced the historic flotilla to alter its commemorative route in order to maintain a safe distance of one nautical mile from the active rescue scene. The weather gods were firmly on our side. Here, too, the organisers were actively engaged in keeping all the Little Ships in line so that they could safely cross the Channel, keeping clear of the commercial shipping route.
Arrival in Dunkirk
We arrived at the Harbour pier around 5:00 p.m. where we were greeted by numerous friendly waving French people. We passed through the Watier and Trystram Locks and headed to the Basin des Commerce, where we moored next to the Little Ship MARSAYRU.
The crossing was completed!
Josephine Alofs-Enneking sprang into action and filled the glasses with the necessary drinks for a happy toast.
Dunkirk is part of a completely different country with a different population. In France, French is spoken, and in Great Britain, English. That says a lot about linguistic communication. HRH Prince Michael of Kent, accompanied by his equerry, once again made a special mark on the commemoration of Operation Dynamo through his active participation in Dunkirk. The people of Dunkirk showed great interest in the many Little Ships moored alongside the long quay. The famously changeable British weather was also present in the form of sun, rain, and wind.
The Commemorative events in Dunkirk
A full program awaited us, including a singer, flag parade, reception at City Hall Commemorative ceremonies in Dunkirk
, classic car show, medal presentation, cocktail party at the quay, meeting with Prince Michael,, visits to the beach, visit to the “Operation Dynamo” Museum, ceremony at the Allies Memorial, gala dinner and much more.
The cocktail party on the quay, with Sunshine, held as part of the 85th anniversary of the return to Dunkirk, served above all as a ceremonial welcome, an opportunity for socialising, and a tribute to the crews of the Little Ships.
Outside the official programme, we took various walks to the western end of the Digue des Alliess promenade, at the junction with the Malo-les-Bains beach. This is where the impressive Allies Memorial stands. It was on these vast sandy beaches that the historic rescue ‘Operation Dynamo’ took place in May and June 1940. The wind and rain also led us to a pastry shop right nearby.
The flag parade on the Little Ship BROWN Owl, owned by Kevin Finn, commemorated the historic ‘Operation Dynamo’ of 1940. It was a solemn tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the soldiers and civilian seamen who rescued over 340,000 Allied soldiers whilst under heavy fire.
The flag parade on the Little Ship BROWN Owl, owned by Kevin Finn, commemorated the historic ‘Operation Dynamo’ of 1940. It was a solemn tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the soldiers and civilian seamen who rescued over 340,000 Allied soldiers whilst under heavy fire.
The official reception hosted by the Mayor of Dunkirk, Patrice Vergriete, took place at the Town Hall. HRH Prince Michael of Kent delivered a lengthy speech here in fluent French, in which he highlighted the historic rescue operations of Operation Dynamo, as well as the deep bond between the British seamen and the citizens of Dunkirk.
The Mayor presented the 85th Anniversary Commemorative Plaques to a number of distinguished individuals of the Royal Navy.. When there was one plaque left, a public appeal was made to find the oldest ‘Little Ship’ owner / participant. As everyone present considered themselves still to be very young, Nicolaas Tjebbes had the honour of receiving this plaque at the age of 87.
Following the ceremony, all ‘Little Ship’ owners were invited for a buffet lunch and to receive their plaques. This plaque will now become part of the ship in question. Our neighbour fitted it right next to last year’s plaques in the wheelhouse of RYEGATE II.
The plaque serves as a token of recognition for the tireless efforts made to preserve, restore and maintain these historic Little Ships. It honours the acts of civil courage from 1940 and pays tribute to the fact that today’s crews are keeping the legacy and memory of the rescue of over 340,000 Allied soldiers alive for future generation.
Back outside on the market square, our attention was drawn to a vehicle that was also used by the Royal Navy in 1940. An Austin Seven! from around 1938. “The affordable car for the people”, manufactured by the illustrious Sir Austin in his Longbridge-Factory in Birmingham (U.K). A friendly invitation to try out the seats was gladly accepted. Although here the concept “Less is More” implies, let’s stick to the tender to RYEGATE II, built in 1934, in near concours condition.
We visited the Musée Dunkerque 1940 – Operation Dynamo, which is situated in an original historic setting. It is housed directly within the casemates of Bastion 32, which served as headquarters for the French and Allied forces during the Battle of Dunkirk. The museum has an outstanding collection of artefacts from Operation Dynamo in 1940.
The ship’s bell from the Crested Eagle, brought over by the Little Ship AQUABELLE, was ceremonially handed over to the museum.
Back on the way to our ‘Little Ship’, our ever-attentive skipper, Frank Mulder, opened the gate to the jetty for us. The surprise was complete: HRH Prince Michael of Kent stepped forward, accompanied by his equerry and Ian Gilbert, who was accompanying the Prince in his capacity as Honorary Vice-Admiral of the ADLS.
Nicolaas Tjebbes took the opportunity to introduce Josephine Alofs-Enneking to the Prince, which led to a cheerful conversation and broad smiles from those standing around.
On Saturday 24 May, a solemn memorial service was held at the Allied Memorial near the beach at Malo-les-Bains in Dunkirk to mark the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo. Shortly before this, the last known British naval veteran of Dunkirk had passed away. In attendance were the crews of the ‘Little Ships’, the Royal Navy and military delegations, units from the French and Belgian armed forces, official representatives of the city of Dunkirk, diplomats and the leadership of the ADLS.
The event commemorated:
“The Miracle of Dunkirk”,
The courage of the civilian seamen and the telegraph operator Duncan McInns, the last known naval veteran of Dunkirk, who had passed away just a few days before the event at the age of 105,
and those who fell and those left behind
The speeches were delivered in the pouring rain.
The key points were:
Passing on the “Spirit of Dunkirk” to the younger generation of seafarers.
The message from the Royal Family
Queen Camilla issued a personal message on behalf of the King and the nation. Her own father, Major Bruce Shand, was one of the soldiers rescued on the beach at Dunkirk at the time. She paid tribute to the heroic and unprecedented efforts of the civilian seafarers
As official representatives of the ADLS, Commodore Kevin Finn and Honorary Vice-Admiral Ian Gilbert referred, amongst other things, to the ships and their crews at that time.
Ian Gilbert: The boats are now the new witnesses, as no living veterans can be present any longer. The Dunkirk Little Ships themselves now bear the burden of keeping history alive and are now the veterans.
The diplomatic speeches included, amongst other things, a tribute to the French Resistance, which enabled the defensive line around Dunkirk to be held until the evacuation could be completed.
At the end of the ceremony, the wreath-laying ceremony took place, followed by playing of the ‘Last Post’ and a Minute’s Silence.
This memorial service was the most moving highlight of the entire events in Dunkirk.
In the evening, the traditional return supper took place at the Villa Blanche in Teteghem, a suburb of Dunkirk. Transport to and from the venue was arranged by bus. We were welcomed there with a champagne reception. The dining room was filled with large round tables, each of which was occupied by the crews of two Little Ships. RYEGATE II shared a table with the crew of the Little Ship ANNE, led by the distinguished. Roger Gabb It soon became clear that we were in for a very cheerful evening at our table, one that will remain in our memories for a long time to come.
RYEGATE II was about to plan its return to the Netherlands by sea. The weather forecast for the coming days was extremely unfavourable, forcing the Little Ship fleet to remain in Dunkirk for another week.
On Sunday afternoon 25 May, officially the last major day of the events, the grand historical city parade took place, with a large military and historical parade through the city centre. The procession featured nearly 800 participants and marching groups in historical uniforms, accompanied by marching bands and around 40 restored military vehicles from the period.
It is planned that the 90th Return to Dunkirk will take place in 2030, organised by the ADLS.
The weather provided RYEGATE II with an opportunity to leave the port of Dunkirk immediately, thus beginning its return journey to the Netherlands without an escort. Our guests Josephine and Anthony Alofs-Enneking from Belgium had already said their goodbyes after dinner the evening before. Frank Mulder remained on board as skipper for the crossing, along with Sarah, Dr. Robert Gemmell and the owner.
Farewell to Dunkirk
The RYEGATE II crew would like to express its sincere thanks to the organisers for their long-standing commitment to ensuring the smooth running of the 85th Commemorative Return to Dunkirk. We do not wish to name individuals here. Our thanks go to all the volunteers for their commitment on behalf of the ADLS. One question: What about the commitment of the individual Little Ships? You’d better ask the owners!
Warmest regards,
on behalf of
the RYEGATE II crew
Nicolaas F. Tjebbes.
RYEGATE II en route to Vlissingen, in the south-west of the Netherlands. A new adventure lay ahead!
Early in the morning on 25 May, RYEGATE II passed through the locks to the outer harbour, where the English Channel welcomed her with sunshine and gentle high waves, but this time without an escort.
Frank Mulder, our experienced skipper, had to be in Amsterdam that very same day, so there was no turning back.
The journey was very relaxed. We were able to take turns retreating to the comfort of the cockpit, which had been extended by 1 metre, whilst enjoying a wonderful view of the foaming waves behind us. It was the perfect moment to reflect on the last two memorable weeks.
Towards evening, under the skipper’s steady hand, we reached Vlissingen, where we first topped up with diesel and then moored for the night in the Stadhaven Scheldekwartier.
Vlissingen, a historic port city in the province of Zeeland, is strategically situated at the mouth of the Westerschelde where it flows into the North Sea. The name Vlissingen first appeared in the year 620 AD, when it was a small fishing hamlet.
Frank Mulder bid us farewell here, after which Sarah Gemmell, Dr Robert Gemmell and Nicolaas Tjebbes remained on board for the onward journey to Muiden (NL).
RYEGATE II en route from Vlissingen (NL) to Muiden (NL)
On 27 May, we left Vlissingen and took what we considered the safest route towards the historic town Utrecht. The area is firmly in the hands of international commercial shipping. Now that Frank Mulder had handed the helm over to us, Dr Robert Gemmell was called upon to prove his skills. He kept the ship on course at all times, apart from the instances when his wife Sarah repeatedly spoilt us with her treats from the kitchen.
RYEGATE II completed what was probably her first voyage since 1937 without a hitch through these regions, where she was constantly admired by the public.
We spent the night ‘wild camping’ somewhere by a canal alongside grazing cows, which is permitted in many parts of the Netherlands.
On 28 May, we reached the old town of Willemstad in the late afternoon, where we moored for the night. Willemstad is a historic fortified town dating from around 1565, situated on the Holland Diep and Volkerak in the province of North Brabant.
On 29 May, things got exciting as we sailed through narrow canals with locks and numerous bridges right through the heart of the historic city of Utrecht. Utrecht, a settlement founded 1976 years ago as a Roman fort. It is situated in the province of Utrecht, on the Kromme Rhein, which splits into the Utrechtse Vecht and the Leidse Rhein within the town.
The subsequent journey through the picturesque Vecht waterway was very relaxing. At around 6.00 pm, we reached our destination, the Royal Netherlands Yacht Club in Muiden, where we spent the night on the boat. Muiden, a historic fortified town dating from 953, is situated 15 km from Amsterdam, right at the mouth of the River Vecht on the IJsselmeer. Muiden was granted town rights 904 years ago
This marked the end of ‘Dunkirk 2025’ for us.
We have unforgettable and fond memories of Ramsgate and Dunkirk, in the safe company of the ‘Dunkirk Little Ship RYEGATE II’. Until her next assignment, she rests, well protected, into her private boathouse.