There doesn't seem to be a general thread detailing events for next May / June and I didn't wish to encroach on Jon's thread relating to his 75th Commemorative March. http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/52282-dunkirk-2015-commemorative-march/?hl=%2B75th+%2Banniversary A 'Google' search shows that the boats are expected there in significant numbers but I can find little mention of any other planned events or vehicle presence. According to the Tourist Authority :- "...2015 marks the 75th anniversary of the battle of Dunkerque and Operation Dynamo. From 21st to 25th May 2014, around 50 “little ships” will return to Dunkirk, together with vessels representing several European navies. Throughout the weekend, a number of commemorative events take place in and around Dunkerque." Personally, I'm intending to be there on the Norton and I'd like to see Jon's group march past. If anyone spots more detail of planned events / locations, please post them here. Cheers, Rich
I'd like to take the Scout. I'll find out about any others soon. I think there's a couple of early Morris trucks interested, CDFW. The Scout takes a little bit of planning and probably local approval due to the tracks. They are road legal and aren't really heavy enough to chew up the Tarmac but still.......... Arranging to be by Jon's march at some point seems like a very good idea. Ben
We are going (no surprise really) in a party of six, struggling to find a house/holiday home to rent for 2 weeks close to Dunkirk that we like though. I'll be taking Jacob to some of the usual sites like CWGC, Devonia, Crested Eagle, Wormhoudt and the Mole but will also be visiting St. Vennant for a couple of days research. Rich the 'Little Ships' go every five years.
Hi Rich Jan pointed me in the direction of this forum as I was looking to see whether there was anything being planned for the Dunkirk 75th Anniversary 2015. I have a March 1940 BSA WM20 (restored to BEF period) which I wanted to take over. Cheers Andy
Looks like things may be a tad earlier in May than the 70th anniversary. http://www.adls.org.uk/t1/content/75th-anniversary-return-dunkirk-21st-25th-may-2015
Welcome to the forum, Andy. In 2010, at least one of the UK MV Clubs had a vehicle delegation in Dunkirk (but it may have been members / invitation only). A French re-enactors group were at the Fort des Dunes (with some vehicles I think) and there was a seriously researched 70-mile march by a group of re-enactors which is definitely going ahead again. I hope that there will be an opportunity to meet up. At the very least, Jan and I, and Lex with his Big 4 should be there making the place generally unsafe and trying to take some 'then & nows' The Dunkirk Memorial Museum website says they're still finalising their events for next May. I'm a member of the MVT but have seen nothing in their publications and the web is a bit blank at the moment. If there is nothing 'big' going on then we'll have to make our own entertainment. There's no shortage of relevant locations to visit. Drew, the early date is logical as 25th May is Pentecost / Whit Monday and a public holiday in France and Belgium.
Hello Andy, Welcome to the forum! The ideal place to do some presearch for your Dunkirk trip! Hope to see you there, Jan
Actually, any date after 10th May more accurately reflects the part that I'm interested in. My obsession ends at the end of the lorry piers !
Let's not forget that the evacuation did not end at Dunkirk. Something like a quarter of a million were saved in the three weeks between 4 June and the Armistice, over half of them were members of the BEF.
Hi everyone Thanks for the welcome. I did reply last evening but somehow my message got lost in the somewhere in cyber space. Suffice to say hope to join you next year and am willing to assist if possible with ideas. I have been to Normandy a few times, but never Dunkirk! Been into historic military vehicles for over 30 years, should probably join my local MVT (south Somerset). Once again thanks for the welcome Andrew/Andy
Hello, Would like to take my bedford mw over for the 75th, and there are at least another two or three that would come too. There must be something planned? john
Hi John I still have not seen anything official relating to the 75th, but like you intend taking a vehicle (BSA WM20) over, it maybe we will have to do our own thing as a group(?). I was wondering whether as a group we could make a direct approach regarding attendance, if so a decision would need to be made very shortly. Andrew
Hello Andrew, Thanks for the speedy reply, yes i'd be more than happy to join a group as you suggest, we would probably get more done that way. i'll point the other bedford owners here, and we can start a list? Cheers john
Hi John I am easily diverted from the report I'm writing. Sounds like the beginnings of a plan... Andy
Hello Andy, Certainly would be nice to have a convoy of dunkirk era vehicles, would make for some great pictures. This forum certainly has the knowledge, working together we could we could tick a lot of boxes. Do you think any of the royal family will go over with it being a 75th? Ben H and I spoke about this a few months back and there has been some interest from other people too. john
Hi John I have not been able to establish anything that might or might not be going on for the 75th, it was my frustration that led me to this forum. The little ships/boats are going over, but they tend to do so on a regular basis. My aim was to take my 1939/40 BSA WM20 to Dunkirk, hopefully meeting with other like minded people who either owned appropriately aged vehicles or were attending in period uniform, I have to be a little realistic about wearing uniform due to age (57), but it does set the bike off nicely. Be nice to get a group of early vehicles together! Andrew
Hello Andy, Why not make our own tour, if there is enough people interested, thats what me and sparky (the other bedford owner) were going to do. john
I'm fairly sure that the MVs present in 2010 for the 70th were all from the IMPS. They kept it fairly close to their chests which means that there is very little on the internet. It did mean that they were able to arrange for magnetic markings to give a unit effect (3rd Div, I think) That said, there were a number of quite obviously later vehicles there so the authenticity scrutineering can't have been that strict. They seem to be focussing next year on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Jersey.
