1940

Dunkirk Evacuation

In May 1940, British, French and Belgian troops were cut off on the French coast by German forces and faced death or capture. A hastily assembled fleet of 850 'little ships', code-named 'Operation Dynamo', departed from Britain (many making several return voyages) and rescued over 338,000 British and French troops. The event inspired Winston Churchill's 'We shall fight them on the beaches' speech and gave rise to the phrase 'Dunkirk Spirit' and to the Brits' reputation for turning a defeat into a victory.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Dunkirk Evacuation

Commemorated ati

Charles Lightoller

Commander Charles Herbert Lightoller RNR. DSC* {Between an image of a ship's ...

Dunkirk at Teddington Lock

We've read (Telegraph and This is Local London) that on 9 May 2010 this "worn...

Hurlingham Yacht Club

1922 is the year that the Club took on its current name, though we don't know...

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Other Subjects

Captain William Mudge

Surveyor. Born Plymouth, godson of Samuel Johnson. Served in South Carolina. 1791 joined the Ordnance Trigonometrical Survey and became its director in 1798. Thus a very important figure in the wor...

Person, Armed Forces, Science, USA

1 memorial

Private Mark Thomas Green

Mark Thomas Green was born circa 1887 in Islington, Middlesex (now Greater London), one of the eight children of Mark Green (1848-1935) and Annie Ophelia Green née Talboys (1846-1920). In the Apr...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1

1 memorial

J. Chaplin

Employed at the Holloway tram garage. Served and was killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1

1 memorial

Sergeant Frank James Emberson

Frank James Emberson was born on 9 April 1911, the elder son of Frank Emberson (1885-1950) and Alice Maud Emberson née Whiting (1887-1976). His birth was registered in the 2nd quarter of 1911 in th...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2

1 memorial

Sir David Bruce

Born Melbourne, Australia but the family returned to Scotland when he was 5 . Pathologist and microbiologist, investigated sleeping sickness.

Person, Armed Forces, Medicine, Australia, Scotland

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Ralph Dunkley

Former lecturer and amateur athlete. Birth year approximate. He ran with Gordon Pirie in the team that set a 15.27.2 minute world record for the 1500m relay in 1953.

Person, Sport / Games

1 memorial

Brass Crosby

Born Stockton-on-Tees. 'Brass' was his mother's family name. Lord Mayor of London. Lived in Essex Street. The obelisk at St George's Circus names Crosby since it was during his mayoralty that the n...

Person, Lord Mayor, Politics & Administration

2 memorials

Worshipful Company of Brewers

Livery company. Their first royal charter was granted in 1438, although they had existed from the 13th century.

Group, Commerce

1 memorial

Wendy Taylor

Sculptor resident in Bow. Studied at St. Martin's School of Art. Her philosophy is to 'take art out of the galleries and out onto the streets', and has probably more original permanent sculptures o...

Person, Sculpture

5 memorials

Queen's Hall

Opened in 1893 designed by the architect Thomas Knightley. He is said to have used the bellies of dead mice as a guide for the shade of grey that he required (but see below). He aimed at, and accor...

Place, Music / songs

1 memorial