Live ChatIn the spring of 1940, as Nazi forces surged across Europe, more than 338,000 Allied troops - many of them British - found themselves trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. Surrounded by enemy forces and facing defeat and capture or death, these soldiers, sailors, and airmen became part of one of the most daring rescue missions in military history: Operation Dynamo.
From 26 May to 4 June, a remarkable flotilla of Royal Navy ships and hundreds of civilian vessels - fishing boats, lifeboats, and pleasure craft - crossed the English Channel whilst under constant threat of attack from the dominant German Luftwaffe. The navy ships, and the civilian “Little Ships of Dunkirk”, helped evacuate the stranded troops, embodying the spirit of unity and sacrifice that defines the British fighting spirit.
The Dunkirk Evacuation was not a victory in the traditional sense, but it was a triumph of resilience. It was a moment when civilians and service personnel stood shoulder to shoulder, proving that in the face of overwhelming odds, we never battle alone.
At SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, we carry that legacy forward. Just as communities rallied to bring their troops home in 1940, SSAFA continues to support today’s service members, veterans, and their families - offering practical, emotional, and financial assistance when it’s needed most.
